WB: 18-Yr-Old Found Hanged To Death For Being A BJP Worker

There seems to be no end to post-poll violence in West Bengal, as even after two weeks of Panchayat elections, an 18-year-old BJP worker’s body was found hanging from a tree in Purulia’s Balarampur area. This incident which is a reminder of the Maoist insurgency days has sparked controversies on social media.

This came just after a day when Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata Banerjee’s nephew said that he would make Purulia opposition free, reported Ebela, a Bengali daily.

The victim, Trilochan Mahato, was a student of Balarampur College in Purulia and the son of a Dalit BJP leader Pano Mahato of Balarampur block.

The atrocity does not end there, on the back of Trilochan’s T-Shirt was a chilling message in Bengali which read, “Being involved with BJP politics at the age of 18 claimed your life. I have been searching for you since the elections and now you are dead.”

Joy Biswas, SP of Purulia, while talking to The Logical Indian said that they are still investigating the case and that no arrests have been made yet.

A few notes that have been found near the body, coupled with the message on his T-shirt sheds light on the fact that his death was a punishment for sympathising with the BJP during the recently conducted Panchayat polls.

Background Of The Incident

As reported by the Economic Times, Pano Mahato, the victim’s mother, Trilochan had left home on Tuesday for his usual visit to the village market. She got a call from her son around 8 P.M and where she heard her son shouting.

This was also when Pano learnt that her son has been abducted. Even though the villagers launched an immediate search mission to find Trilochan, he was nowhere to be found. His body was discovered hanging from a tree by farmers the following day.

Criticisms Against The WB Government

This incident has drawn massive criticisms against the present Mamata-led West Bengal Government. BJP President Amit Shah took to Twitter and condemned the violence by saying, “Deeply hurt by the brutal killing of our young karyakarta, Trilochan Mahato in Balarampur, West Bengal. A young life full of possibilities was brutally taken out under state’s patronage. He was hanged on a tree just because his ideology differed from that of state-sponsored goons.”

Deeply hurt by the brutal killing of our young karyakarta, Trilochan Mahato in Balarampur,West Bengal. A young life full of possibilities was brutally taken out under state’s patronage. He was hanged on a tree just because his ideology differed from that of state sponsored goons. pic.twitter.com/nHAEK09n7R

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 30, 2018

On the other hand, Asansol BJP MP Babul Supriyo tweeted-“A life was lost at such a ripe age. What was his fault? Just that he supported BJP. Madam’s activities resemble somewhat to that of Hitler. My condolences to the family of Trilochan Mahato who was killed by Trinamool’s goon army. #TMChhi.”

সবেমাত্র ১৮ বছর হতে না হতেই অকালে চলে গেল একটি তরতাজা প্রাণ। দোষ কি ছিল ছেলেটির? বিজেপিকে সমর্থন করাই তার দোষ ছিল? 'ম‍্যাডাম' এর এই সমস্ত কাজকর্ম কিছুটা হলেও 'হিটলারের' কাজকর্মের সমতুল্য। তৃণমূলের গুন্ডা বাহিনীর হাতে নিহত ত্রিলোচন মাহাতোর পরিবারকে জানাই গভীর সমবেদনা |#TMChhi

— Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) May 30, 2018

Rahul Sinha, BJP National Secretary, while talking to The Logical Indian, came down heavily on the present government and said, “BJP condemns this barbaric incident and demands a CBI inquiry into the death of this 18-year-old.”

He further said that this was a result of TMC’s insecurity for losing ground in the Jangalmahal area of West Bengal where BJP performed well. The area which was previously affected largely by Maoist activities saw the death of 700 deaths during the 2008-2011.

In the recently conducted Panchayat polls, BJP won all seats in Balarampur area of Purulia district and also registered victories in a large number of Gram Panchayats in Jhargram and Bankura districts added Sinha.

It is worthy to mention that, this incident which has received a large amount of social media attention, was left untouched by Mamata Banerjee since she is yet to comment on the issue.

Multiple incidents of violence, ballot box tampering and booth lootings are being reported from the Panchayat elections in West Bengal. The state election commission (SEC) had received complaints of violence from at least 4 districts – North 24 Parganas, Burdwan, Coochbehar and South 24 Parganas.

The Logical Indian Take

We live in a country where the Constitution allows us to practice and preach our ideologies. This incident, which might’ve been a result of an inter-party rivalry has resulted in the loss of a youth over ideological differences.