The deceased has been identified as Jahidul Sheikh, the husband of TMC panchayat member Safia Bibi. Sheikh’s relative alleged that he had been murdered by CPI(M) workers but the party denied the allegations.

Local sources said Sheikh and Bibi were travelling in a car when it was stopped and they were attacked. While Sheikh was stabbed, Bibi and the car driver were injured and have been admitted at the Shaktinagar Zilla Hospital in Krishnanagar.

Two people have been detained and are being questioned, the police said. “We have initiated a probe. It is too early to speak about the motive of the murder,” an official said.

“He has been killed by the CPI(M). He was actively working for the TMC ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and that is why he was killed,” said Ajiz Sheikh, Sheikh’s relative.

The CPI(M)’s Krishnanagar candidate S M Sadi claimed that the murder was a fallout of the TMC’s internal indifferences. “It is TMC v/s TMC. The murder is a fallout of their infighting. CPI(M) does not believe in such type of politics,” Sadi said.

State BJP leader Dilip Ghosh also blamed the TMC. “All the goons are now in one party and it is TMC… so if anyone has been murdered, it is TMC’s infighting,” Ghosh said.

The Lok Sabha elections for the 42 seats in West Bengal will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1.