Birbhum, 13 July (H.S.) In a shocking incident of political violence, Trinamool Congress (TMC) zonal president Piyush Ghosh (42) was shot dead late Saturday night in Sainthia in West Bengal’s Birbhum district.

According to sources, Piyush Ghosh was a resident of Komarpur village in the Shrinidhipur zone of Sainthia. He was Agriculture Karmadhyaksha of Sainthia Panchayat Samiti and Zonal President of the Trinamool Congress in Shrinidhipur.

His family members said that Ghosh returned home around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night. About half an hour later, at approximately 11:00 p.m., he received a phone call and was asked to come to a nearby crossing in the village. When he reached there, he was shot at point-blank range in the head.

Local TMC workers and family members rushed him to Bolpur Sub-Divisional Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The family suspects political motives behind the murder, alleging that Ghosh was targeted because of his recent appointment as the zonal president. However, they have not lodged police complaint against any specific individual.

The police have detained two women and a young man for questioning. Till the time of filing of the news, no formal arrests have been made.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey