Kolkata: In a daring crime in broad daylight, bike-borne men shot dead a Trinamool Congress leader in West Bengal’s Malda district on Thursday.
The influential local leader, identified as Dulal Sarkar, aka Babla, was a ‘close associate’ of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
“My close associate, and a very popular leader, Babla Sarkar has been murdered today. From the beginning of the Trinamool Congress, he (and his wife Chaitali Sarkar) worked hard for the party, and Babla was also elected a councillor. I am sad and hugely shocked after knowing about the incident. The culprits must be booked immediately,” Mamata wrote on X, adding that she doesn’t know how to convey her condolences to the bereaved family.
According to local sources, Dulal was on way to his factory after leaving the Trinamool Congress party office on Thursday morning when he was attacked, reported ABP Ananda. Four men, riding two motorcycles, approached Dulal from behind and fired four rounds. Sarkar was hit by three bullets, with injuries sustained in his shoulder.
Dulal was rushed to Malda Medical College & Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Mamata pulled up the police for Dulal’s murder.
“Of course police negligence is to be blamed. He had been attacked earlier also. He used to get protection before but that was taken off,” Mamata said later at an administrative meeting.
The CM, who is herself the state’s Police minister also, directed two of her ministers – Firhad Hakim and Sabina Yasmin – to rush to Malda.
