Two assailants on bicycles shot dead a local leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal, near Titagarh in the 24th district of North Parganas, on Sunday. The duo opened fire on Manish Shukla on BT Road at night, after which he was taken to a private hospital, where he succumbed to injuries, police said. Also read: ‘Give your children some Sanskaar’! Bollywood actors slap at BJP MLA for their comments on Hathras rape case
The assailants arrived on motorcycles and their faces were covered with masks, said BJP workers present at the scene. Two party workers were also injured. Also Read – Bihar Assembly Elections 2020: BJP, Congress to Finalize First Candidate List Today
BJP has called for a 12-hour bandh along the entire stretch from Kanchrapara to Titagarh in the Barrackpore area on Monday in protest of the incident, sources said. Also read: ‘Only silence that speaks volumes’, the governor of the WB accuses CM Mamata of ignoring the ‘Urgent message of 10:47 pm’
West Bengal: Images from the Titagarh of North 24 Parganas, where BJP councilor Manish Shukla has been shot and killed. pic.twitter.com/9z81tlLtFU
– ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2020
Shukla, who defected from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) two years ago, was a popular organizational leader. News of his death caused tension in much of the Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency.
A core team consisting of the party’s general secretary, Sanjay Singh, MPs Arjun Singh, Saumitra Khan, Jagannath Sarkar and Shanku Deb Panda, will visit Shukla’s residence on Monday morning.
“Shukla was killed. We demand an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the role of the police. Arjun Singh’s life is also in danger. Mamata Banerjee cannot rule the state with terror, ”said BJP National Secretary General Kailash Vijayvargiya, who was in Kolkata.
Meanwhile, the Governor of West Bengal, Jagdeep Dhankar, summoned CM Mamata Banerjee and the state police for the deterioration of the public order situation in the state.
“ACS Home @MamataOfficial and DGP @WBPolice have been summoned at 10 am tomorrow in the wake of the worsening law and order situation that led to the cowardly murder of Manish Shukla, Titagarh Township Councilor at the party office political, ”Dhankhar said in a tweet.
Home ACS @MamataOfficial and DGP @WBPolicia They have been summoned at 10 am tomorrow following the worsening situation of law and order that led to the cowardly assassination of Manish Shukla, Titagarh Township Councilor at the political party office.
– Governor of West Bengal, Jagdeep Dhankhar (@ jdhankhar1) October 4, 2020
The BJP said that now Bengal is becoming a place where killings are normalized. “Bengal is now becoming a place where killings are normalized! Manish Shukla, Titagarh BJP councilor, was shot by TMC thugs. This series of murders clearly indicates towards its inevitable end TMC, ”the party tweeted.
Bengal is now becoming a place where killings are normalized! Manish Shukla, Titagarh BJP councilor, was shot by TMC thugs. This series of murders clearly indicates towards its inevitable end TMC. pic.twitter.com/t3LBqjrtNT
– BJP Bengal (@ BJP4Bengal) October 4, 2020
Shukla was also an outgoing councilor for Titagarh Township, where the term of the elected civic body ended. Elections are scheduled in around 110 civic organizations in the state.
(With PTI inputs)
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