In a statement issued by Sayantan Basu, the state General Secretary of the Bengal BJP, it says, “BJP OBC karyakarta Dipak Mahato (27) and his father Lalmohan Mahato (52) brutally murdered by TMC goons at Purulia”. It further adds the father-son duo were “effective karyakartas of Purulia Mandal Committee 1”. BJP has also claimed that they were protesting against alleged corruption of TMC in distributing rice and hence targeted.

But the police have rubbished ‘political murder’ theory. The Superintendent of police Akash Magharia has said, “It happened due to some dispute between two families. Two are murdered and 4 injured. We have already initiated actions”. An FIR is registered under sections 341, 343, 302, 326 and 35 of the IPC. As of now, 3 are admitted in hospital and another 3 are on the run.

But Purulia, which has come to be known as ‘Kannur of East’ due to a spate of political murders is not new to such allegations and denials. In fact Trilochan Mahato and Dulal Kumar, both claimed to be BJP workers were found to be hanging earlier which cops denied calling them ‘suicide’. In fact, A note was left on Trilochan Mahatos tee shirt saying he was murdered for his association with BJP. Purulia has become a hotbed since BJP has made significant inroads in the district in the recently concluded Panchayat Polls.