The murder of a BJP worker allegedly by Trinamool-backed goons on Thursday triggered violent protests at Sonachura in Nandigram, two days ahead of elections there.

Supporters of the saffron camp put up roadblocks, ransacked and torched shops and unleashed attacks on some ruling party leaders.

Police said the deceased was identified as Rathirani Ari, 56. Her son Sanjay Ari, 35, and several other BJP supporters were among those seriously injured in the attack.

Sanjay, a leader of the BJP’s SC Morcha, and another injured villager have
been sent to Calcutta for treatment, while others are being treated at a hospital in
Nandigram.

The police said trouble started around 2am on Thursday when a group of BJP supporters, who were patrolling the area to ensure that TMC cadres could not intimidate villagers, stopped at least 10 bikes on their tracks. A heated exchange ensued between the two sides.

A senior police officer in East Midnapore said Sanjay was in the BJP team patrolling the area. When he did not return home after 2am, Rathirani stepped out to look for her son. As she reached the site of trouble, a clash broke out between the two groups. Rathirani, who was among the seven injured villagers who were rushed to Nandigram Super Speciality Hospital, succumbed to her injuries.

BJP workers block a road in Nandigram on Thursday in protest against the woman’s murder. Picture by Kanishka Maity

“Rathirani, who had been attacked with a sharp-edged weapon, died in the hospital. Three injured villagers were discharged after primary treatment while two others, including Sanjay, were referred to Calcutta. No one has been arrested in connection with the murder so far. An FIR naming 25 accused has been lodged with Nandigram police station. A probe has been initiated,” said the police officer.

As the news of Rathirani’s death spread, hundreds of BJP supporters hit the streets and started ransacking the shops of local TMC leaders. Some of the shops were also set on fire. The BJP supporters put up road blockades in several areas to prevent the entry of the police.

District TMC leaders alleged that the mob raided the house of local party leader Debkumar Roy. In the absence of Roy, his wife and two daughters were assaulted.

Around noon, the police began removing the roadblocks. RAF personnel and the police lathi-charged the mob and brought the situation under control.

The trouble in Nandigram has become a headache for the Election Commission as the area falls under the Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency, which will vote on Saturday.

Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the Opposition and BJP MLA from Nandigram, alleged that the attack on an SC woman took place at the instigation of TMC national general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee. He alleged that the administration had not used central forces deployed in the area since Wednesday.

“The administration did not use two companies of central forces stationed at the Sonachura High School from Wednesday. If they were used properly, the death of the woman could have been averted. I will lodge complaints with the ECI against the administration,” said Suvendu.

He reached Nandigram police station around 4pm and alleged that the police had held a meeting with the accused there.

“We have lodged an FIR. We will wait for seven days and if the police initiate no step till then, we will move Calcutta High Court seeking a CBI inquiry,” said Suvendu.

Later in the evening, a TMC delegation led by irrigation minister Partha Bhowmick and former forest minister Rajib Banerjee reached Sonachura. Banerjee said the TMC had no connection with the murder and it was an outcome of a family feud.

Relatives of the deceased denied the claim and said Sanjay was a TMC worker who joined the BJP two years ago as the family did not get any financial assistance after Cyclone Amphan damaged their house.

“Sanjay was threatened earlier.... Now, the TMC killed his mother and he is battling for his life in the hospital,” said a relative.

In the evening, Suvendu and the BJP candidate from Tamluk, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, took Rathirani’s body to her house.