Bengal: BJP worker Dalu Sheikh killed after being attacked with crude bombs in Birbhum's Labhpur

Violent clashes erupted between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadres late Saturday night at Labhpur area in Bengal's Birbhum district.

A BJP worker, Dalu Sheikh, was killed in the clash. According to sources, Dalu was returning to his residence in Mirbadh from the Daraka village, when he was allegedly attacked by TMC workers with crude bombs. He was accompanied by another person, who has been missing since last night's incident.

Reports suggest Sheikh died of serious injuries after he was attacked with the bombs. Following the blast, agitated locals blocked a part of the road for two hours and prevented the police from taking away Dalu's corpse as protest against the incident. However, the situation was controlled after a massive police force was rushed to the spot.

Since last night, immense unrest has marked the Labhpur region. After the Lok Sabha elections, local MLA  Manirul Islam changed sides to join BJP in June, an event which has resulted in frequent inter-party clashes in the region, according to political commentators.

On Sunday, BJP accused TMC of their party worker's murder. They claimed that the state's ruling party has been losing ground faster than ever, and has, therefore, been engaging in acts of violence as retribution. However, the TMC has dismissed the allegations and said that the murder has resulted from intra-party conflicts between old BJP workers and new converts.