Another person found hanging in WB ; BJP alleges political murder

The body of another man was found hanging from a power transmission tower in West Bengal's Purulia district, with the BJP claiming he was a party worker and Union minister Prakash Javadekar alleging that it was "political murder".

The incident comes days after the body of another man, Trilochon Mahato (20), who the party said was a member of its youth wing, was found hanging from a tree in Balarampur village of Purulia district.

The BJP alleged the deaths were "political murders" and demanded a CBI inquiry into the two incidents, even as the West Bengal government transferred Purulia Superintendent of Police Joy Biswas. He has been replaced by Akash Magharia, reports PTI.

The alleged killings have triggered another round of face-off between the TMC and the BJP, which were embroiled in a bitter slugfest during the panchayat elections last month.

Dulal Kumar (35) was found hanging from a power transmission tower near the fields in Purulia district's Dava village early this morning, SP Joy Biswas, who has been transferred following the incident, told PTI.

No arrest has been made in connection with the incident so far, the SP said.

The BJP claimed Kumar was a party worker.

Party president Amit Shah attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the wake of the alleged "political murders".

Kumar's death outraged locals who protested outside the Balarampur police station, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits and removal of the officer-incharge.

A note found near Mahato's body read he was "punished for working for the BJP" during the recent panchayat polls. However, the police did not recover any such note in Kumar's case, Biswas said.

"According to circumstantial evidence, Kumar's death seems to be a case of suicide. We are waiting for the postmortem report," the SP said.

TMC Rajya Sabha member Derek O' Brien condemned the killings and demanded a detailed probe into them. He, however, did not rule out the involvement of the BJP, the Bajrang Dal or Maoists in the incidents.

"Distressed to know about yet another killing of BJP karyakarta Dulal Kumar in Balarampur, West Bengal. This continued brutality and violence in the land of West Bengal is shameful and inhuman. Mamata Banerjee's govt has completely failed to maintain law and order in the state," Amit Shah said in a tweet.