TMC murder FIR: BJP leader named

The BJP, TMC turf war in West Bengal is veering out of control. BJP leader Mukul Roy is among the four people who have been named in connection with the killing of Trinamool Congress MLA Satyajit Biswas in West Bengal's Nadia district.

The result of the preliminary post-mortem report has revealed that Biswas was shot in the head. Mukul Roy, a former TMC general secretary who joined the BJP last year following differences with party supremo Mamata Banerjee, denied any hand in the killing, claiming that Biswas was a "victim" of the TMC's internal feud.

"Naming me in the FIR is absolutely politically motivated. I am sorry about Satyajit's death, but the manner in which they (the TMC leaders) are trying to hold the BJP responsible is nothing but a dirty conspiracy," Roy told PTI.

A country-made revolver was recovered from near the place of the incident. Biswas (41) was shot from a point blank range by unidentified assailants inside a Saraswati puja marquee at Phoolbari area, which is about 15 km from the Bangladesh border.

He was immediately taken to a local hospital where doctors announced him "brought dead".

Amid allegations that there was no security cover despite the presence of the MLA and a minister at the venue of the Saraswati Puja where the incident occurred, the officer in-charge of the local Hanskhali police station and the personal security officer of Biswas have been suspended. The PSO was on leave on Saturday; now, a departmental inquiry has been ordered in view of his contradictory statement on the reason behind his leave.

The victim was fired from behind and it was a well-orchestrated plot, an official said.

Nadia is a district bordering Bangladesh and the BJP has made significant political inroads in recent times. Attempts were being made to create a divide among the Hindus and the Matua community, of which Biswas was a leader, said sources.