A Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker was shot and injured late Thursday night (July 3) in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district, sparking a political standoff between the TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The police have arrested Dipankar Roy, the son of local BJP MLA Sukumar Roy, along with his driver Uttam Gupta, in connection with the incident.
The victim, Raju Dey, who serves as the karmadhyaksha of the Cooch Behar Block II Panchayat Samiti and Public Health Officer, sustained a gunshot wound to his right shoulder after unidentified assailants opened fire near the Jhinaidanga area around 11 pm. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital and is reported to be in stable condition following surgery, according to officials.
Investigators confirmed that a black vehicle used in the attack had been abandoned near the site and was later identified as belonging to MLA Sukumar Roy. Police stated, “The vehicle belongs to MLA Roy. The BJP leader’s son and the driver of the car have been arrested. We have witnesses who saw his son in the car at the time of the incident. Our investigation is continuing.”
Law enforcement officials added that they had filed an FIR against four people in the case. CCTV footage from the crime scene has also been recovered and is being considered a critical piece of evidence.
Speaking to reporters from his hospital bed, Raju Dey alleged direct involvement of the MLA’s son. “This is not new; the MLA and his son have attacked many of our people on other occasions as well,” he said, urging strict action against the accused.
In another statement, he linked the shooting to previous demonstrations in Chakchaka. “A couple of months back, locals in Chakchaka held protests because the MLA remained inactive in the area. The legislator was travelling in the same car back then. It was seen yesterday, too, when I was attacked,” Dey said.
The incident prompted widespread protests by TMC workers in Cooch Behar, who marched in support of Dey and denounced the attack. In a post on X, the party declared, “We outright condemn the murderous attack on Raju Dey, Public Health Officer of Cooch Behar II Panchayat Samiti. Armed BJP-backed criminals, using the car of @BJP4Bengal’s own MLA, tried to kill a public representative, and BJP still dares to talk about law and order?”
The party also posted, “Our Panchayat Samiti worker from Jhinaidanga was shot in cold blood. CCTV footage confirms the involvement of @BJP4Bengal MLA Sukumar Roy’s son, flanked by their usual gang of armed goons.”
In reaction to the allegations, BJP MLA Sukumar Roy firmly denied any wrongdoing and suggested that the episode was being exploited by the opposition for political gain. “BJP does not involve itself in such crimes and violence. I do not know who is behind this incident, but TMC is only using this to malign our name,” he said.
He further claimed that the Trinamool Congress had minimal influence in North Bengal and particularly in Cooch Behar. “TMC does not have much footing in North Bengal and Cooch Behar; that is why they are using this moment to attack BJP,” he remarked, also adding, “There are many allegations against Mr. Dey, and he could have been attacked by anyone.”
BJP leaders also alleged a political conspiracy behind the arrest. “This is definitely a pre-planned conspiracy by the TMC. They did it along with the police,” claimed Sukumar Roy.
TMC Minister Firhad Hakim accused the BJP of instigating violence using aggressive tactics. He stated that the BJP was attempting to bring the “Gujarat model” of politics to West Bengal with the aim of inflicting harm on opposition workers.
Referring to BJP’s alleged declining popularity in the region, the TMC wrote, “The 2024 Lok Sabha results from Bengal made it clear that @BJP4India was rapidly losing ground in Cooch Behar. Now that the district has slipped from their iron-fisted grasp, they’ve returned to what they do best: unleashing BRUTE, MINDLESS VIOLENCE.”
Police confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
 worker was shot and injured late Thursday night (July 3) in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district, sparking a political standoff between the TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).){kind=link}