The body of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Madan Lohar (50) was recovered from a field in the Kankalitola area of Santiniketan on Sunday, triggering allegations of murder by his family. Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to his death.
Madan was the former booth president of Dholtekuri village under the Kankalitola Gram Panchayat. According to family members, he had been missing since Saturday evening. After an overnight search by relatives and locals in nearby areas, his lifeless body was found in an open field on Sunday afternoon.
On receiving information, police from Santiniketan police station, led by Officer-in-Charge Dolly Mondal, reached the spot. The body was recovered and sent to Bolpur Sub-Divisional Hospital for post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.
Family members have alleged that Lohar was murdered. Breaking down in tears, his wife Kalyani said they had searched for him throughout the night but failed to find any trace. “They killed him. We cannot understand why this happened,” she said.
His daughter, Leela, echoed the allegation, stating that her father had some debts due to a gambling addiction, particularly involving lottery tickets. She said he had left home on Saturday evening saying he would return shortly but never came back. “My father was not actively involved in politics anymore, but I am sure he was murdered. He might have been killed because of his debts,” she said.
Police sources said they are examining multiple angles, including the possibility of a dispute linked to financial liabilities as well as any political motive behind the killing. Local TMC leader Saptam Das said the manner in which the body was found had raised suspicions of murder and urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation.
The incident comes against the backdrop of political changes in the Kankalitala Gram Panchayat area near Bolpur town. The panchayat was earlier controlled by Sudipto Ghosh, a close associate of Anubrata Mondal, known as the ruling party’s strongman in Birbhum district who was arrested by the CBI in cattle smuggling case, and a member of the TMC’s core committee. After Mondal was jailed in connection with cattle smuggling and financial embezzlement cases, Faizul Haque, also known as Kajal Sheikh, emerged as a rival force and won a Zilla Parishad seat in the 2023 panchayat elections, later becoming chairman. His supporters subsequently took control of the Kankalitala Gram Panchayat.
Madan, who had earlier served as a booth president in this politically sensitive area, was found dead on Sunday, adding to concerns over law and order. Police said further action would be taken after the post-mortem report and preliminary investigation are completed.
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