123 Santiniketan: A 46-year-old Trinamool Congress panchayat member was severely assaulted at Kankalitala's Paruldanga under Santiniketan police station on Saturday night. Samir Thandar was taken to Bolpur sub-divisional hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries early on Sunday. Police had detained five persons for questioning until reports last came in.
The victim's son, Pratik Thandar, said: "I got a call that my father was being attacked. I rushed there and found him on the road; his face was bleeding and he was barely breathing. All this took place in front of the home of the prime suspect, Bhutu. He was kicking my father and shouting that he was willing to spend three months in jail for killing him."
"My father was with Trinamool, but I do not know to what party the assailants belonged. My father had no rift with anyone. He had gone to bring back his bicycle when he was attacked," Pratik said.
Thandar's wife, Supriya, said: "He was beaten severely. He was a panchayat member, but it never came to our notice that he had any enmity with anyone."
Bikash Roychowdhury, convener of Trinamool's Birbhum core committee, said: "I have heard about the incident. It may be the result of a village dispute. We request police to investigate the matter and take legal action against the offenders."
Police said an FIR had been lodged and five persons were being questioned. "The motive is still not clear," an officer said.