Hooghly: 71 year old Muslim dies after alleged assault by BJP supporters

Hooghly: A 71-year-old Muslim man, Sheikh Shah Alam, died after allegedly being assaulted by a group of Bharatiya Janata Party supporters in Kelepara village under Purshura police station, family members and residents said.

The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, June 15, when relatives say 7–8 men gathered outside Alam’s home and called him out. The family alleges he was set upon with bamboo sticks, bricks and iron rods as he stepped outside. Women who tried to intervene, including Alam’s wife Marjina Begum, were also allegedly pushed and struck. Alam was taken to Arambagh Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The family denies any active political role for Alam and demanded arrests. “My father-in-law never did politics. He cannot be called a Trinamool worker. Yet the BJP goons beat him to death. We want strict punishment for the accused,” said relative Reshma Khatun. Alam’s son, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, said the family had no party affiliation and questioned why his father was targeted.

Local police said Alam had long supported the Trinamool Congress but was not an active worker and that his elder son confirmed no active association for the past two years. Authorities have registered a case and launched an investigation; the body was sent for post-mortem and further action will depend on probe findings and the post-mortem report. At the time of reporting, the family had not filed a written complaint.

The Trinamool Congress condemned the attack, accusing “BJP Bengal-backed goons” of brutal violence and demanding accountability. Purshura BJP MLA Biman Ghosh denied the party’s involvement, called for a fair police probe and said that if party workers were implicated, they would not be spared.