An elderly CPM worker was beaten to death and another severely injured allegedly by a group of Trinamul workers at Baiguni village of Birbhum’s Nanoor on Monday morning.

The family members of the victims alleged that the goons did not allow them to take the injured to hospital for hours and the delay led to the death of one, Badal Sheikh, 68.

Sheikh was declared brought dead at Bolpur sub-divisional hospital. Nishapati Thandar, 65, was admitted with multiple injuries in a critical condition.

“Our elderly party workers had hoisted the party flag in the village on the occasion of the November Revolution on Sunday. This angered the Trinamul and their party workers beat the duo on Monday leading to the death of Sheikh. We will hold a protest at every police station of the district against such brutality,” said Goutam Ghosh, CPM’s state committee member and Bolpur leader.

Family members of the two CPM workers said around 10am on Monday, the two CPM workers had gone to Baiguni bus stop, where Trinamul workers assaulted them with sticks.

“For a few hours they did not allow us to take my husband to the hospital. Police intervened and took my husband to the hospital. He was killed as he was a CPM worker,” said Jarina Biwi, wife of Sheikh.

Trinamul, however, denied the allegation and said the party had no connection with the murder.

“Trinamul had no reason to beat CPM workers. It could be a personal issue and Trinamul had no connection with it,” said Birbhum district party chief Anubrata Mondal.

Birbhum police chief Nagendra Nath Tripathi said police had started a case of culpable homicide.

Farm leader no more

The CPM’s Birbhum district secretary and farm movement leader Manasa Hansda, 64, died at his home in Dhanyasara village of Birbhum’s Bolpur on Sunday midnight. He had skin cancer.