Daijiworld Media Network - Barrackpore

Barrackpore, Feb 9: An 80-year-old man died in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district after allegedly being assaulted by a Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor while protesting against illegal construction near his residence, his family alleged in a police complaint on Sunday.

The incident took place in the Barrackpore area and has sent shockwaves across the poll-bound state. Following a complaint filed by the family of the deceased, police arrested Rabindra Nath Bhattacharya, TMC councillor of North Barrackpore Municipality from Ward No. 23, after questioning him at the Barrackpore police station.

The deceased, Tulsi Adhikari (80), had reportedly been opposing illegal construction in front of his house and had earlier lodged a complaint over the issue.

According to Paromita Adhikari, daughter-in-law of the deceased, the councillor along with his associates allegedly barged into their house on Sunday and assaulted Tulsi Adhikari and her husband. She claimed that the councillor abused the octogenarian and kicked him in the abdomen, following which he collapsed.

“He fell to the ground and died while being taken to Chandra Bose Hospital in Barrackpore Cantonment,” she alleged.

Denying the accusations, Bhattacharya termed the allegations “baseless and politically motivated”. He claimed that he had not assaulted anyone and alleged that he was attacked instead. “The son of the deceased grabbed my neck and pushed me. CCTV footage will prove the truth,” he said, adding that any death was unfortunate.

The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and police said further investigation into the matter is underway.