A Trinamul Congress worker was allegedly shot dead by a party leader for protesting against the poor maintenance of a road at Bhagabangola in Murshidabad.

The incident has sparked outrage in the area, prompting police to deploy a large force to avoid any untoward development.

Police and local sources said Babar Ali, 45, was reportedly gunned down by Golap Sheikh, a Trinamul Congress leader and an elected member of the Bhagabangola Panchayat Samity. Sheikh is also the karmadhaksya (executive) of the agriculture department.

Ali was attacked near his home in Ramnapara village while he was speaking to neighbours early on Friday morning.

According to the eyewitnesses Sheikh, accompanied by a group of assailants, approached Ali and fired four rounds at him from close range, killing him on the spot. Ali was immediately rushed to a local hospital where doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival.

The incident reportedly stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Ali and Sheikh over the maintenance of a local road. Ali had allegedly confronted Sheikh about the substandard quality of the work, leading to a heated altercation during which the Trinamul leader reportedly threatened him with dire consequences. The disagreement had escalated during a recent argument at a local tea stall, according to sources.

The police have registered a murder case against Sheikh and eight others based on a complaint filed by Arik Hossain, the deceased’s relative. However, none of the accused had been apprehended till Friday afternoon. Sheikhhas since gone into hiding, with his residence found locked and his mobile phone switched off.

Tansura Biwi, the wife of the deceased, recounted the tragic event. “Around 8am, when my husband was talking to some neighbours outside our home, Golap arrived with a group of goons and fired four bullets at him.”

She claimed the murder was directly related to her husband’s objections to the poor condition of the road and the subsequent threats he received from Sheikh.

Local Trinamul Congress MLA Riyad Hossain expressed his shock at the murder, saying: “Babar Ali was an active party worker. It’s unclear to me who is behind his murder, but I have instructed the police to take action irrespective of the political affiliations of those involved.”