Tensions flared in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district after Raju Dey, the Karmadhakshya of the Cooch Behar-2 Panchayat Samiti and a local Trinamool Congress leader, was shot near his residence late on Thursday night. He was rushed to a nearby nursing home in critical condition and underwent surgery. Doctors have confirmed that his condition is now stable.
The shooting has triggered a political storm, with Trinamool Congress accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of orchestrating the attack. District Superintendent of Police Duteeman Bhattacharya confirmed the arrests of BJP MLA Sukumar Roy’s son Dipankar Roy and his driver Uttam Gupta in connection with the shooting. The vehicle used in the attack — a black four-wheeler — has been seized and is currently being examined by forensic experts. The police are searching for two more suspects believed to be involved in the case.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Raju Dey reiterated his accusations against the BJP. “Sukumar Roy has done no development in the last four years as MLA. When people protested his visit to Chakchak, they became targets. This attack on me was an act of vengeance,” he said.
According to the police, Dey was returning home from the party office on his motorcycle when he was allegedly ambushed just 100 metres from his house by the suspects in a black vehicle who opened fire. Locals immediately rushed him to the healthcare facility, where he underwent emergency surgery.
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Trinamool’s Cooch Behar district president, Abhijit De Bhowmik, alleged that the attack was politically motivated. “A few days ago, when BJP MLA Sukumar Roy visited Chakchaka for a public meeting, locals led by Raju Dey protested against him. This attack is clearly retaliation,” he claimed. He further accused the BJP leader’s younger son of orchestrating the shooting with the help of accomplices.
However, the BJP has strongly denied the allegations. Roy, MLA of Cooch Behar North Assembly constituency, dismissed the accusations terming them as “baseless” and politically motivated.
“Trinamool is losing its ground here and is trying to trap BJP workers with false charges ahead of the elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, fresh tension erupted on Friday morning when local residents discovered live cartridges lying on the road at the attack spot. Police quickly arrived at the scene and recovered the cartridges.
In protest against the attack, TMC workers and supporters staged road blockades in Chakchak, Khagrabari and Pundibari, burning tyres and demanding the immediate arrest of all culprits involved in the shooting. The demonstrations lasted for nearly half an hour before being called off following police assurances of swift action.
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