A youth died after being reportedly hit by a vehicle of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s convoy in East Midnapore’s Chandipur on Thursday night, triggering protests by Trinamul on Friday.
Sheikh Israfil, 33, was on a cycle when he was allegedly hit by a “bulletproof” vehicle that was part of Adhikari’s convoy near Chandipur petrol pump around 10pm. Taken to a hospital, he was declared brought dead.
Chandipur police arrested accused driver Anandakumar Pandey from Contai on Friday.
The accident reportedly occurred when the convoy was making its way back to Contai from a protest against the alleged murder of a BJP worker in East Midnapore’s Moyna.
The BJP claimed Adhikari’s convoy was not even present in the area. A source from Adhikari's office said the bulletproof vehicle was 2-2.km away from the leader's convoy.
However, according to Chandipur police sources, notices have been sent to everyone in the convoy except Adhikari.
On Friday, Trinamul leaders held a protest march in Chandipur, where ministers Akhil Giri and Birbaha Hansda, Chandipur MLA and actor Soham Chakraborty, leaders Dola Sen, Sudip Raha and Debangshu Bhattacharya and others took part.
Trinamul spokesperson Kunal Ghosh posted the victim's photo on Twitter and wrote: “Suvendu’s speeding convoy escapes after killing a youth. He did not show humanity to stop.... Arrogant Suvendu did not care.... I want Suvendu’s arrest.”
A Tamluk BJP leader, Pulakkanti Guriya, said Trinamul was trying to “divert attention” from the BJP worker's murder.