Fearful of getting killed, TMC MLA gets statue built

Kolkata, March 13: Fearing that he could be killed, West Bengal’s ruling TMC MLA Jayanta Naskar has got his own statues built so that people remember him after his death.

The 71-year-old two-time MLA from Gosaba in South 24 Parganas district hired a sculptor three years ago from Kumartuli, a Kolkata neighbourhood famous for potters and sculptors, to craft his two life-size statues made of fibreglass and a clay bust.

“Four criminals had escaped from the Alipore Central Correctional Home. After they were recaptured, they admitted they were hired by local politicians to kill me. The then district SP Praveen Tripathi had informed me about this. The state government enhanced my security to Y-category after that,” said Mr Naskar, who is now guarded by 11 policemen.

“I then decided to get my statues built so that if get killed these statues will remind people of me,” he told PTI.

Naskar, who has been with the TMC since its inception, said his family members are also fear that he could be killed and keep calling him to inquire if everything was fine.

“I’ve many enemies within the TMC. These leaders belonged to other parties earlier and they are my enemies since then,” said the father of five. After he hit upon the idea, Naskar started looking for a sculptor in Kumartuli.

“After finding one, I had to go there more than five times for sittings to ensure the sculptor builds the statues with utmost exactitude possible,” he said.