By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net
Kolkata/Berhampur: The battle for West Bengal claimed its first victim during the third phase of elections in Domkal, Murshidabad. Tauhidul Islam, a small hawker of conch-shell bangles was killed allegedly by Trinamool goon at a polling booth in Jitpur-Natunpara village, Domkal Murshidabad.
The local people said that Islam was killed after a brawl broke out when between him and some TMC supporters. Islam was a CPI (M) supporter. The incident also left three people injured, bringing back images of the Panchayat elections of 2008 when about 16 people died in political clashes between CPIM and Congress. Now these two parties have been joined by the Trinamool Congress. The injured, all Muslims, has exposed the ugly side of the local politcs in a constituency where they are in majority. According to victims daughter Tuhina Khatun who is studying in class XII, her father was at the booth around 7.30 am at Natunpara, when a TMC supporter, who was also a Muslim, tried to break the queue. “When my father protested, a few TMC workers dragged him out and attacked him, leaving him dead on the spot,” she said.
Police Super of Murshidabad C Sudhakar said 11 persons have been arrested and a murder case has been filed by the deceased’s family.
Tuhina Khatun has not stopped crying since the news; Islam was the sole breadwinner in the family and after his demise, the future of Tuhina, her siblings, and her mother looks bleak.
Domkal:Important seat for minority votes
Domkal sees former Left front Minister and sitting MLA Anisur Rahman of CPIM against Soumik Hossain, son of ex Congress MP Mannan Hossain contesting for TMC and Congress candidate Abdur Rahman Sheik. Also in the frame is retired IPS Nazrul Islam contesting on behalf of his own party `Mulnibasi Party of India’.
The fight between Muslims in Domkal has been condemned by the member of the All India personal Law Board and Murshidabad resident Maulana Ishaque Madani
He spoke with TCN and called it a shame for the Muslim society. “In Domkal more than 80 percent Muslim. This is a political fight and I appeal to the Muslims in the state to be aware and not fight each other over politics.”
State Secretary of All India Muslim Youth Federation Md Kamruzzaman added that Muslims should keep away from political clash. “The victimms of political clashes are mostly Muslim or Dalit or Schedule caste/Schedule tribe. The maeginalised communities are always used as vote banks. Muslims should stay away from violence and focus on real. issues like need for a University,” he said.