Just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-profile public meeting in Haldia, the recovery of a BJP worker's body has triggered a massive political firestorm in East Midnapore.
The body of Mahadeb Biswas was found near the banks of the Haldi river in the Banskhana-Jalpai area. Local BJP leaders allege that Mahadeb was brutally murdered by TMC-backed goons for putting up party flags and posters in preparation for the PM's visit.
Reacting sharply to the incident, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has demanded that the post-mortem be conducted by doctors from AIIMS Kalyani to ensure an unbiased report. “We do not trust the state administration,” Adhikari stated. While the TMC has rubbished the claims, calling it a desperate attempt by the BJP to gain sympathy before the polls, the local police have registered a case of unnatural death and are awaiting forensic results.