The murder of a woman BJP supporter on Wednesday night in East Midnapore’s Nandigram led to widespread violence and arson since Thursday morning, two days before voting is scheduled in the area known for a sustained anti-land acquisition stir that acted as a catalyst for Mamata Banerjee to become chief minister by unseating the Left Front government in 2007.
A Trinamul leader from Sonachura, identified as Debu Roy, has been arrested.
BJP workers burnt tyres, blocked roads and pulled down shutters of shops in Nandigram, alleging TMC-backed criminals were involved in the killing of Rathirani Ari (38), who is a saffron party worker in Sonachura village in Nandigram that is part of the Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused the Trinamul of indulging in violence since it was certain of defeat in the Tamluk constituency, where the BJP has fielded the former Calcutta high court judge, Abhijit Ganguly.
“These jihadis do not hesitate to kill a woman. The BJP will pursue the matter till the end, legally and democratically. Anybody who has dared to shed blood in Nandigram has been forgotten by history,” Suvendu said.
TMC leader in Nandigram Swadesh Das dismissed the allegation, claiming, “There were some family disputes and the killing could be the consequence of that.”
In all, seven persons were hurt in the attack. Among them was Satibala, who succumbed to her injuries later.
“Long live Sanatani martyr Satibala Arhi. Last night at Sonachura’s Manasabazar when the BJP workers were guarding the booths, Trinamul goons had attacked them with sharp weapons,” the BJP leader posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The centre of the anti-land acquisition movement against the Left Front government in 2007, Nandigram gave the ultimate push to Mamata Banerjee’s goal to defeat the Left and form the government in Bengal. That time 17 years ago, the Adhikaris of Contai – the father-son duo of Sisir and Suvendu – were the closest allies of Mamata.
The dynamics between the Adhikaris and Mamata changed after Suvendu defected to the BJP in December 2020 and in the Assembly elections of 2021 defeated her from Nandigram by 1,956 votes.
Addressing a campaign meeting in Haldia on May 16, Mamata had said, “After the elections were over they resorted to loadshedding and changed the results. Today or tomorrow I will have my revenge. How I do it will be revealed in the days to come.”
Wednesday night’s murder has handed the BJP another weapon to hit at the Mamata Banerjee government.
“Mamata Banerjee, at a rally in Haldia, threatened to take revenge for her defeat in Nandigram. She lost to BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, but still shamelessly took over as chief minister,” wrote Amit Malviya, the BJP’s IT cell head and Bengal co-minder.
“Such violence is unacceptable in democracy. Mamata Banerjee must be held accountable for her provocative statements and subsequent action by criminal members of her party. We will fight and ensure justice for Rathibala Arhi and all victims…” wrote Malviya.
Adhikari also blamed the Trinamul’s general secretary Abhishek Banerjee of provoking Trinamul supporters.
“This murder is the direct outcome of nephew’s provocative statement made yesterday. They are certain of their defeat and thus resorting to such violence,” Adhikari wrote on X.
Speaking at a rally in Nandigram on Wednesday, Abhishek had said, “Some are trying to cause trouble. They will be chased with sticks. Don’t leave anyone out. You have to vote yourself. No one can prevent it. The game that started in 2021 will end on June 4.”
