TMC leader shot dead as violence mars bypolls in Bengal's North 24 Parganas

Bhatpara, which is located in North 24 Parganas district, bounds Naihati, where a bypoll is underway.

Shaw, who was the former president of Ward 12 in Bhatpara Municipality, was having tea at a local shop in Bhatpara when some miscreants shot at him.

The firing took place both inside and outside the tea shop, which was also vandalised by the miscreants.

Shaw, who sustained injuries at the firing, was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

"We are investigating. Prima facie, we haven’t found any political connection to the incident. In 2023, there was a similar attack. We’re probing if this incident has any connection to that," said Barrackpore Commissioner of Police Alok Rajoria as quoted by The Indian Express.

The owner of the tea shop said, as quoted by Anandabazar Patrika, "I couldn't get what was happening. Ashok-babu comes to my shop for tea everyday. He had sustained injuries. My shop has been vandalised."

Shaw's mother Meena Devi has cited an "old rivalry" behind the incident.

BJP leader and Bhatpara strongman Arjun Singh said, "This incident is the result of the rivalry between the groups of the TMC leaders."

The firing was taking place in Bhatpara, which is often headlined for political violence, since morning.

Along with Naihati, bypolls are underway in five other assembly constituencies in West Bengal.

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress will like to sweep all six bypolls to reaffirm its undisputed authority weeks after facing an unprecedented protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The TMC, which currently has five of the six seats going to byelections under its belt, is hoping for a clean sweep while the BJP is aiming to give a jolt to Mamata's regime.

The results will be declared on November 23.