A Trinamul leader was shot dead when he was asleep at home in Daudpur area of Sandeshkhali in North 24-Parganas late on Sunday night.
Family sources said at least four rounds of bullets were pumped into Pradip Nayek, 47, a booth committee president of Trinamul, from close range. The shots were fired at Pradip through an open window in the room he was sleeping in. The bullets pierced his cheek and ear, killing him on the spot.
Pradip’s nephew Bappaditya Nayek said: “I woke up to the sudden sound of firing. Soon I heard my aunty scream and I rushed towards my uncle’s room. I found him on his bed in a pool of blood. We rushed him to a hospital.”
Bappaditya said doctors at Sandeshkhali-Khulna Primary Health Centre declared him dead on arrival.
Around two decades ago Pradip’s elder brother Netai Nayek, a BJP activist, was also murdered allegedly by goons close to the CPM.
Pradip, who was a supervisor of the 100-day job scheme under Sandeshkhali-II development block, was accused of conspiring to murder a BJP activist in the area last year and arrested by police. He was granted bail last month and returned home after spending about eight months in jail, family sources said.
His brother Sanyashi Nayek, a co-accused, is in jail.
Pradip’s murder has unleashed tension in the area as his wife Madhumita Nayek has alleged “political conspiracy”. Madhumita, however, did not make any specific allegation against any party or person. “My husband was killed because he was a Trinamul activist. He was popular and that had made many jealous,” she said.
Sandeshkhali police have begun a murder case on the basis of a complaint lodged by the family but no arrests have been made so far.
An officer of Sandeshkhali police station said: “It seems that the murder is a fallout of old enmity. We are yet to find a political angle.’
Local Trinamul leader and Pradhan of Durgamandap gram panchayat Laxman Adhikari said: “Pradip was popular and I have requested the district leadership to ensure that the killer is arrested.”