According to the police, local TMC leader Sheikh Moibul (42), a former gram panchayat member of the TMC and district vice-president of the party’s youth wing, was hacked to death when he was returning home Friday night.

The police said Moibul was coming home after attending a party meeting at the Betkundu area in Mahishadal. He allegedly entered into a verbal altercation with some BJP workers on the way. Later, the spat turned into a clash and the TMC leader was attacked with sharp weapons, the police said.

“He was taken to a local hospital which referred him to another hospital in Tamluk. He died there. The body has been sent for post-mortem,” a senior police officer of the district said.

The Election Commission has also sought an action taken report on the incident from the East Midnapore district administration.

At present, polling is underway in two Lok Sabha seats in East Midnapore district.

Meanwhile, the BJP candidate from Tamluk, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, alleged that there is state-sponsored violence going on in the district, especially in Nandigram.

“State-sponsored violence is going on. The police are being used to terrorise the BJP workers and voters. About six BJP workers have been arrested in Nandigram with an aim to show that TMC is ahead there,” the former Calcutta High Court judge said.