BJP worker found dead inside party office in India’s West Bengal, woman arrested

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker in the Indian state of West Bengal was found dead inside the party office in the South 24 Parganas district, the news agency PTI reported on Saturday (Nov 9) citing a police official.

As per the PTI report, the worker was identified as Prithviraj Naskar and he used to handle the social media accounts of the BJP in South 24 Parganas.

The police official said that a woman was arrested in connection with the crime.

Another police official said that the arrested woman confessed to having hit Naskar with sharp weapons, which resulted in the BJP worker’s death.

“We are exploring the angle of the deceased having been involved in a relationship and any quarrel with the arrested person,” the official added.

Naskar’s body was discovered at the party office on Friday night. According to his family, Naskar had been missing since Tuesday (November 5).

A police team broke open the front door and a collapsible gate locked from inside of the party office before finding the body. Following a preliminary investigation, the woman was picked up in a locality near the party office. 

Union Minister and President of BJP’s Bengal unit Sukanta Majumdar said that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) was behind Prithviraj Naskar’s murder.

In a post on X, Union Minister Majumdar said, “Spoke directly via video call with the family of our martyr, Prithviraj Naskar, who was brutally murdered by TMC’s criminal gang in Mathurapur, South 24 Parganas. 

“The entire BJP stands in solidarity with his grieving family, committed to providing necessary financial and legal assistance. Our fight will continue until justice is served and the killers of Martyr Prithviraj are brought to light,” Majumdar added. 

The BJP’s Bengal unit said in a post on X that Naskar was abducted tortured and murdered by “TMC goons.”

Meanwhile, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said that his party had nothing to do with the killing. “BJP is lying. Their leader died in their party office. They know everything,” Ghosh said in a post on X.

The victim’s father pointed out that his son earned the wrath of some local TMC activists and the police after putting up placards demanding justice for the RG Kar hospital victim during the recent Durga Puja festival in the area.

“My son was warned of dire consequences by local TMC leaders for organising protests on the RG Kar issue during the festive season,” the father told PTI. 

(With inputs from agencies)