Kolkata: A 38-year-old Trinamool booth president was found dead on Thursday morning, with his wrists severed and signs of acid burns on his face, at Haroa-Bhangar Road in Minakhan, North 24 Parganas.Police said Kazi Masiur Rahman was a resident of Gangnia village in Chapatla gram panchayat in Deganga and the TMC booth president for booth 178 in the area.Locals found Rahman’s body on the roadside wrapped in a thin blanket. Preliminary findings suggest he was hacked to death, though the actual cause can only be confirmed after postmortem, police said.Rahman’s body was taken to Haroa Rural Hospital and then Basirhat District Hospital for autopsy.His family members said he received a phone call around 9pm on Wednesday, after which he stepped out. Later, his phone was switched off. After an overnight search, the family learned about the body being found.The incident sparked tensions in the area. Local Trinamool activists claimed intra-party rivalry was behind the alleged murder and pointed to a Trinamool senior in Deganga block.Dhananjay Pramanik, a Deganga panchayat samiti member, said Rahman had recently protested over a road being built in the locality.Rahman’s wife Sabina Bibi said her husband had made several enemies within the party. “He was attacked a few days ago and feared an attempt on his life. We had gone to Deganga police station, but our complaint wasn’t taken,” she said.“My husband fell prey to bitter rivalry between factions of Trinamool block committee netas, and he was brutally murdered,” she added.Police have launched an investigation, but no arrests have been made. “A case was registered. Necessary legal procedures are underway and all possible angles are being probed,” Basirhat SP Alaknanda Bhowal told TOI.
