People's Democracy

Two CPI(M) Activists

Murdered in Murshidabad

TWO CPI(M) activists were brutally murdered in Murshidabad district on October 6, just prior to bye-elections in Jangipur parliamentary constituency. One of them, Comrade Hamid Sheikh, was murdered in Nabagram, a part of Janigpur constituency itself. Comrade Hamid Sheikh was local DYFI leader and head master of Bahara Fatehpur Upper Primary School. He was busy in a shop photocopying some important documents of elections in the evening. Suddenly, a few bike riding assailants appeared there and shot him. They then threw bombs on his body to ensure his death. The attackers were Congress activists.

Comrade Hamid Sheikh was a popular leader and was mobilising people against Congress in the area. Comrade Hamid’s father alleged that Congress leaders threatened him not to participate in the election campaign, which the DYFI leader defied. Local people, who thronged in the funeral rally in numbers on the next day, said Comrade Hamid worked relentlessly for the  poor people, helping them in all kinds of problems.

In another incident CPI(M) member Comrade Sajem Ali Shekh was kidnapped and murdered in Beldanga of the same district. His body was found on October 6 in a drain. A poor vendor Comrade Sajem Ali was a struggling man. He was also very popular among the poor people of his area.

These murders produced a wrath among people and a spontaneous bandh was observed in Nabagram on October 7. CPI(M) activists blocked the national highway in protest. Hundreds of people joined in the last rites of these martyrs.

With these murders, the number of Left Front martyrs in last sixteen months has gone up to 81.

(INN)