Even as BJP continues to blame TMC for the murder of a Dalit boy, who was found hanging from a tree in Balarampur town of West Bengal's Purulia district on Wednesday morning (May 30), the TMC has now lashed out at the saffron party.
The TMC has said that the BJP youth worker, who has been identified as 18-year-old Trilochan Mahato, was murdered due to a clash between the saffron party and the Bajrang Dal.
"Unfortunate, action will be taken, but it is due to their inner fight, it's a clash between BJP local unit and Bajrang Dal. I challenge you, show me evidence of TMC involvement and I will ensure that person is jailed," ANI quoted Abhishek Banerjee of TMC as saying.
A few BJP leaders have slammed TMC for Triilochan's death owing to a chilling message that was found on his shirt, claiming that he was punished for working for the saffron party.
Victim found hanging few metres from his house
The incident took place just a few days after BJP won in all seven Panchayats in Balarampur block, which is a stronghold of Trinamool Congress. However, this is not the first violent incident that the state has witnessed ever since it has gone into the polls.
The deceased is the son of BJP's Dalit leader Pano Mahato of the Balarampur block. Reports have claimed that Trilochan had called up one of his family members on Tuesday night (May 29) and had stated that he was kidnapped by a group of men.
His kin immediately launched a search operation in the forested area but could not trace him anywhere. The next morning, a group of farmers spotted Trilochan hanging from a tree, nearly 200 meters away from his house.
A message in Bengali was scribbled on the white t-shirt that he was wearing. "Being involved with BJP politics at the age of 18 claimed your life. I have been searching for you since the elections and now you are dead," the message read, according to the New Indian Express.
The BJP youth worker's body has been sent for an autopsy and the police are investigating the case.
Opposition slams TMC for Trilochan's death
BJP president Amit Shah had taken to Twitter to express his sorrow.
Deeply hurt by the brutal killing of our young karyakarta, Trilochan Mahato in Balarampur,West Bengal. A young life full of possibilities was brutally taken out under state’s patronage. He was hanged on a tree just because his ideology differed from that of state sponsored goons. pic.twitter.com/nHAEK09n7R
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 30, 2018
"The present TMC govt in West Bengal has surpassed the violent legacy of Communist rule. Entire BJP mourns this tragic loss and stands firmly with Trilochan Mahato's family in this hour of grief. His sacrifice for organisation and ideology will not go in vain. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti," he added.
Babul Supriyo, a saffron party leader and minister for heavy industries and public enterprises of West Bengal, had even compared TMC founder Mamata Banerjee to German dictator Adolf Hitler.
"A life was lost at such a ripe age. What was his fault? Just that he supported BJP. Madam's activities resemble somewhat to that of Hitler. My condolences to the family of Trilochan Mahato who was killed by Trinamool's goon army. #TMChhi," Supriyo tweeted.
Probably the last thing that 18 yr old Trilochan Mahato from Purulia read was,"You are a 18 yr old BJP worker. Today is ur last day."The danger 2 democracy has thickened manifold due to the violence caused by TMC goons who won't even spare an innocent teenager. #BengalBrutality pic.twitter.com/waK92GnpvS
— Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) May 30, 2018
