TMC worker shot at in Gosaba, 3 BJP workers arrested
The Statesman | 21 April 2026
Tension gripped parts of South 24-Parganas after a Trinamul Congress (TMC) worker was allegedly shot at in Gosaba late on Sunday night, triggering a fresh political flashpoint ahead of the Assembly poll. The injured, identified as Dibyendu Gayen, a resident of Shambhunagar area, sustained a bullet injury in his right leg when unidentified assailants opened fire at him. He was initially rushed to Canning Sub-Divisional Hospital and later shifted to Chittaranjan Hospital in Kolkata, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
According to police sources, three BJP workers have been arrested in connection with the incident. The incident took place in Bhupendrapur area under Shambhunagar gram panchayat limits. Eyewitness accounts and party sources said Gayen was returning home on a motorcycle after attending a party meeting on Sunday night. He was accompanied by TMC booth president Palash Mondal, who was riding the bike. Mondal alleged that a group of four to five miscreants intercepted them from behind and opened fire targeting Gayen. “We were returning after a party meeting regarding our programme scheduled for 21 April. Suddenly, some miscreants chased us and fired at Dibyendu. I could identify one of them,” Mondal claimed, naming a BJP worker among the attackers.
The incident has sparked a political blame game between the ruling TMC and the BJP. TMC leaders alleged that the attack was carried out by BJP-backed criminals as the opposition party was “losing ground” in the area. “The BJP has no support base left. In desperation, they are resorting to violence by targeting our active workers,” a local TMC leader said.
However, BJP leaders dismissed the allegations, claiming that the incident was fallout of internal factionalism within the TMC. “This is a case of infighting in the TMC. They are attacking their own workers and trying to shift the blame on us,” a BJP functionary alleged. Police said an investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events and identify all those involved.