A panchayat member of the BJP in Jalpaiguri district has been accused of abusing and assaulting a hawker in a kangaroo court and abetting his suicide.

Dilip Mitra, the BJP member of Arabinda panchayat in Jalpaiguri Sadar block, is at large.

Sources said around 14 years back, Bappa Mohanta, 34, a hawker and a resident of Banbhashipara in the panchayat, had married Shukla, who is from Mainaguri.

“The couple would often quarrel as Bappa had the habit of drinking. On Monday night, they quarrelled again,” said a villager.

This made Shulka approach Dilip on Tuesday. The BJP leader convened a “salishi sabha (kangaroo court)” at his home to “resolve” the issue.

“My brother was called to the meeting. There, Dilip Mitra, along with his family members and associates, abused and assaulted him. My brother felt humiliated and returned home,” said Biswanath, the deceased hawker’s brother.

On Wednesday, Shukla left for her parents’ place and in the afternoon, Bappa purportedly killed himself by jumping in front of a local train in the Mohitnagar area.

“Dilip Mitra is responsible for my brother’s death. We have filed a complaint at
Kotwali police station for abetting his suicide,” said Biswanath.

Soon, Dilip went missing.

“We registered a case. Our officers are searching for the accused,” said Khandbahale Umesh Ganpath, the superintendent of police, Jalpaiguri.

Dilip said the couple had approached him and he had tried to settle the dispute. “I am a victim of a political conspiracy. I have not assaulted or humiliated Bappa,” the BJP leader said over the phone.

Rajesh Mondal, head of the Arabinda panchayat, said Dilip has no authority to convene a “salishi sabha”.

“It is an unfortunate incident. We want the police to find out the truth,” said Mondal.