Ex-panchayat neta dies by suicide, kin names BJP workers in FIR

Kolkata: A former member of the East Burdwan-I panchayat samiti died by suicide on Wednesday, following which his family lodged an FIR against a local BJP booth president and several party workers, alleging that demands for a hefty financial penalty drove him to take the extreme step.The deceased, 46-year-old Swarup Rana, a resident of Jagadabad village under Dewandighi in East Burdwan district, was also employed as a casual worker at the Jagadabad Cooperative Society.According to the FIR filed by his brother, Shyamal Rana, local BJP workers summoned Swarup to a party office on June 22 and allegedly demanded a penalty of Rs 50 lakh.

After repeated appeals, he was reportedly forced to sign a written undertaking agreeing to pay Rs 23 lakh within seven days.

The family alleged that he was threatened with attacks on his home, vandalism and expulsion from the village if he failed to comply.Shyamal claimed that Swarup had been under severe mental stress since the incident and was deeply concerned about his family’s safety.

Allegedly unable to bear the pressure, he consumed weedicide on June 23.

He was admitted to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, where he died on Wednesday morning.The family further claimed that police officers recorded Swarup’s statement at the hospital on the night of June 23, during which he allegedly recounted the incident.

They have urged investigators to treat the statement as a dying declaration.Police confirmed that a written complaint had been received and that an investigation was underway.

The body has been sent for post-mortem examination.Local BJP spokesperson Kalyan Kumar Majhi said the party does not support anyone taking the law into their own hands or conducting “kangaroo courts”.

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