A BJP leader of Dhupguri block in Jalpaiguri hacked his wife to death on Monday morning over a family dispute and surrendered before police before confessing to his crime.

Bhupal Chandra Roy is the vice president of a panchayat-level committee of the BJP.

The crime has left his party embarrassed as it has happened just weeks ahead of the bypoll in Dhupguri Assembly seat on September 7.

Trinamul has picked up the issue and slammed the BJP for perpetuating the culture of atrocities on women.

Roy, 61, who is also a retired bank employee and a resident of Anchalpara-Boragari, a locality under Baroghoria panchayat of Dhupguri, had a fight with his wife Phanibala, 59, over some issue.

As the couple resorted to a heated exchange of words, Roy suddenly picked up a sharp weapon and tried to attack her.

Phanibala ran out of her house in an attempt to save herself. Roy chased her and hacked her from behind. The woman collapsed on the spot and died.

Leaving her dead on the spot, Roy reached Dhupguri police station. There, he narrated the incident and surrendered before the police.

A police team recovered the body and started a probe.

Local sources said the Roy couple would often quarrel.

As the news of the murder spread, Trinamul leaders were quick to react.

Mahua Gope, the district Trinamul president of Jalpaiguri, said the incident has again proved that the BJP simply makes tall talks on the security and safety of women.

“This is the BJP’s culture. They often raise their finger at the Bengal government on incidents of crime against women, but the reality is that women are safe in Bengal. If a BJP leader can kill his wife, it can be easily understood what they think of other women. We condemn the BJP for keeping such a person in the party,” said Gope.

Leaders of the Trinamul camp also alleged that after Roy's surrender, a section of BJP leaders had gone to the police station to prevent his arrest.

In Dhupguri, the Assembly by-poll would be held on September 5. The seat had fallen vacant following the death of BJP MLA Bishnupada Roy who died last month.

So far, the CPM and Trinamul have announced their candidates for the seat. The saffron camp is yet to name its candidate.

The murder, political observers said, put the BJP in a tight spot.

“Trinamul has already spoken on the incident and the Left too, is likely to comment on it. It would be interesting to see how the BJP counters as it is a local issue,” said an observer.

District BJP leaders, said the crime was the fallout of a family dispute.

“The party has nothing to do with it. We want the law to take its own course. Trinamul is resorting to cheap politics,” said Bapi Goswami, the BJP president of Jalpaiguri district.