Murshidabad, 27 April (H.S.): Tension gripped the Lalgoa area of West Bengal’s Murshidabad district after the body of the husband of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was recovered from the Bhagirathi river. The family has alleged murder, claiming that the victim was killed and his body dumped in the river. The police have launched an investigation into the incident.

According to local sources, the body of a 49-year-old man was recovered from the Bhagirathi river in the Baikunthapur area of Raghunathganj around 11 a.m. on Monday. The deceased was later identified as Nazir Sheikh (49), husband of TMC leader Hasen Banu Bibi from the Lalgoa block.

The police and local sources said Nazir Sheikh left his home in Fakirpara area under Lalgoa police station jurisdiction at around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. His family stated that he usually travelled on a bicycle, but on that day he left on foot. When he did not return home by evening, the family began searching for him. At around 8:40 p.m., he was seen in CCTV footage in the Raghunathganj area.

On Monday morning, locals spotted a body floating in the Bhagirathi river and informed the police. Family members later identified the body. The victim’s son, Nadeem Sheikh, alleged that his father was strangled to death and then thrown into the river.

The family further said that Nazir Sheikh was involved in social work in the area and often helped resolve local disputes through community mediation. They suspect that this may have led to enmity with some individuals.

The police have sent the body for post-mortem examination and initiated a detailed investigation. Officials said it is not yet clear whether the death was accidental or a planned murder. All angles, including possible political links, are being examined, though no conclusions have been reached so far.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey