Five members of a Trinamul Congress panchayat samiti member’s family were named in an FIR which accused them of murdering a party worker at Bakharpur in Murshidabad’s Lalgola on Sunday night.

The murder of Najibur Rahman, 54, and the FIR filed by his brother bring to the fore an intense internal rivalry in the ruling party, prompting the district leadership to promise action against both the factions.

Najibur’s brother, Minarul Sheikh, named five from the family of Setabul Hossain, a panchayat samiti member and a former gram panchayat pradhan. While Setabul led a faction, his rival lobby was helmed by Mohammad Sharif

Setabul’s brother, Sadekul Hossain, and sons, Ismail Hossain, Manirul Hossain, Jinnat Hossain and Suraj Hossain, are the five accused. Seven others were also named in the FIR.

Police arrested three persons, including Ismail and Manirul, on Monday.

On Sunday night, a group of men, who were allegedly sent by Setabul, attacked the residence of Khairul Islam, who belongs to the Trinamul lobby that the deceased was part of. Khairul managed to escape and informed Najibur and others.

Later at night, when Najibur went to Khairul’s residence with four others, they were attacked. While the others managed to flee, Najibur was caught by the attackers. Around 1.30am, those from Najibur’s lobby went to the spot to find his lifeless body, although without prominent external marks of injury.

“They attacked him with brickbats. One of them must have hit him somewhere critical, killing him at the spot,” alleged Minarul, brother of the victim, who lodged the FIR.

Sources in the village said there was discontent with Setabul and his lobby in the village, after little development took place in the gram panchayat area under him.

They said Najibur, Khairul and others had formed a 40-member committee recently for development under Trinamul’s local leader Mohammad Sharif. The committee, said the sources, was staunchly opposed to Setabul and his team.

“The committee has become very popular. Setabul has been drastically losing support. This was worsening tensions between the two factions,” said a villager.

The police had picked up Setabul and several others from his residence after they were gheraoed by angry villagers. Setabul, however, was released later.

He could not be contacted for comment.

Murshidabad district police chief Mukesh acknowledged the complaint and confirmed the three arrests.

“We have launched a probe and are awaiting the autopsy report. Since there are no major external injury marks, we have to see if the death was a case of murder,” he said.

Trinamul’s Lalbagh sub-divisional leader Rajib Hossain, however, said both factions were responsible for “anti-party” activities.

“Both sides have been partaking in anti-party activities and the party will not tolerate such nonsense. A probe will be conducted by the party too, while the law takes its own course. Those hurting the party from within will not be entertained in the party,” he said.