A Trinamul leader in South Dinajpur attempted suicide by consuming sleeping pills on Friday night, a few hours after a police complaint accused him of taking money from a resident while promising the latter's son a job.

Anadi Lahiri, 47, the block president of Tapan block in the district, is currently under treatment at the super-specialty hospital in Gangarampur.

Sources said on May 1, a purported video of Lahiri taking money surfaced on social media. Sukanta Majumdar, the state president of BJP who is from the same district, flagged the issue.

On May 19, Anowar Sarkar, a resident of Azmatpur in Tapan block, filed a complaint at the local police station, accusing Lahiri of having taken Rs 2.5 lakh from him by promising to recruit Sarkar’s son as a civic volunteer.

“Around three months back, Anadi Lahiri took the money from me for my son’s job. He, however, didn’t meet his promise. I asked him to repay my money many times but he didn’t. That is why I filed a police complaint and informed the district Trinamul leadership in writing,” said Sarkar.

On May 19 night, Lahiri consumed sleeping pills at home. His family members found him in a serious condition and rushed him to the local hospital in Tapan. Later, the Trinamul leader was shifted to the Gangarampur facility.

Bapi Sarkar, a general secretary of BJP in the district, said: “We don’t believe that the (Trinamul) leader has collected the money for his own interest. We suspect that a share was passed to some other leaders (of the party). It seems he was under some kind of pressure and thus resorted to such an act. It is unfortunate."

Mrinal Sarkar, the district Trinamul president, said they didn't know why Lahiri made the suicide attempt.

“He attempted suicide and is still under treatment in a critical condition. We don't know why he took such a step. The BJP is simply trying to do politics over the issue,” Sarkar said.

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