Police term Purulia death suicide, BJP cries foul

Party’s strike call hits normal life in district after it alleges murder of two of its supporters

Results of a post-mortem examination show the man found hanging from an electricity tower in West Bengal’s Purulia committed suicide, police said yesterday, against the backdrop of a 12hour strike called by the BJP to protest the alleged murder of its party workers.

“The body of Dulal Kumar was found hanging from a high-tension tower in Dabha village yesterday [Saturday] .... a case of unnatural death was recorded and post-mortem was done,” said newly-appointed Purulia superintendent of police Akash Magharia said.

He said the post-mortem was done by a board of five doctors.

Magharia’s immediate predecessor Joy Biswas had on Saturday claimed that preliminary investigation suggested the death of Kumar was a case of suicide. Following the statement, Biswas was transferred.

However, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, who reached Purulia yesterday, accused police, the ruling Trinamool Congress and miscreants of “acting together”.

The party had called the 12hour Purulia strike after two of its party workers were allegedly murdered within a span of three days.