BJP MLA’s Son Arrested in Shooting of TMC Leader in Cooch Behar; MLA’s Vehicle Seized
West Bengal Police on Friday arrested Dipankar Roy, son of BJP MLA Sukumar Roy, in connection with the shooting of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Raju Dey in the Pundibari area of Cooch Behar district on Thursday night.
Police also seized the black SUV allegedly used in the attack, which is registered in the name of the legislator, Sukumar Roy.
“We have arrested two persons. A black-coloured SUV, which the attackers had used, has also been seized. Search for two more persons, named in the FIR, has been going on,” said Dyutiman Bhattacharya, superintendent of police of Cooch Behar district.
🔹 The Incident
The attack occurred around 10:40 pm while Raju Dey, a panchayat samiti leader of the ruling TMC, was returning home on a two-wheeler. He was shot in the right shoulder by assailants who came in an SUV and later underwent surgery at a local hospital. His condition is currently stable.
“We gathered CCTV footage from the area. Investigation revealed that the SUV belongs to the MLA. His son has been arrested. One more person named Uttam Gupta has been arrested,” said another police officer.
🔹 Political Fallout
The incident triggered massive protests by TMC workers on Friday morning, with road blockades across multiple areas, including Pundibari, demanding immediate arrests.
“Dey was shot at by the BJP MLA’s son on his father’s instructions. The BJP MLA is behind this,” alleged Partha Pratim Roy, former TMC MP from Cooch Behar.
🔹 BJP Denies Allegations
BJP has rejected all accusations, claiming the incident is a result of TMC’s internal feud.
“These are baseless allegations. Anywhere anything happens, BJP leaders and workers are being implicated by the ruling party and its police. The BJP is in no way involved in this. This is a result of the TMC’s factional feud. Dey has multiple enemies. We don’t believe in such politics of murder,” said Sukumar Roy, BJP MLA and father of the accused.
“The BJP MLA is trying to pass it off as a factional feud of the TMC hoping that he can get off with it,” said Shashi Panja, state minister.
The investigation is ongoing, with police pursuing two more suspects linked to the case.