BJP functionary shot dead; party blames TMC

A BJP mandal secretary of Dinhata subdivision in Cooch Behar district of Bengal was shot dead at his home, sparking tension in the area. Locals alleged Prasanta Roy Basunia (26) was speaking to a group of people in his sitting room when an altercation broke out. One of the visitors reportedly whipped out a pistol and shot Basunia in the head. Cooch Behar SP Sumit Kumar said: “The circumstances leading to the death are being probed. We are waiting for the post-mortem report. The victim had a pending arrest warrant against him.” Cops said Basunia had been booked in six criminal cases, including theft, dacoity and attempt to murder, and was listed as ‘absconding’ in police records. The murder took place barely a km from Union minister Nisith Pramanik’s residence. Basunia was known to be close to Pramanik. The incident triggered a political slugfest ahead of panchayat polls. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari demanded a CBI probe, alleging TMC role in the murder. “TMC got scared after hundreds of its activists in the area left to join BJP,” he tweeted.