A CPM supporter was killed and two others were injured when they were allegedly attacked by bandh enforcers in Jalpaiguri district on Tuesday.

The CPI(ML)’s Mahadev Mukherjee faction had called a bandh in Naxalbari and Siliguri region today to mark the death anniversary of CPI-ML founding member Charu Mazumdar, who died while in jail after being arrested by Kolkata Police in July 1972.

The killing of Ananda Das (28) at Tantidoba set off fear among the CPM in the region. Former CPM MP and Jalpaiguri Sadar zonal committee secretary Jiten Das said such violence had never taken place in the past three decades when this day was observed by the CPI-ML with a bandh. “It seems like the winds from South Bengal are blowing this way,” Das said, referring to the attacks on CPM men by Maoists in affected districts like West Midnapore and Purulia.

“Ananda was a member of our youth wing, the DYFI. He runs a small shop in his village. This morning, he went with some friends to open his shop when several CPI-ML supporters turned up and asked him to keep his shop closed. An argument ensued and the CPM supporters were attacked with sharp weapons. Ananda died on the way to the North Bengal Medical College & Hospital,” Das said.

Jalpaiguri SP Anant Kumar said so far three persons have been arrested in connection with the murder. He said the injured, Sudhanshu Burman and Dwijen Roy, were recovering in a hospital. “Raids are going on in the area. The assailants have fled into the forests across the Teesta canal. This is the first time such violence has erupted on this day. We are investigating all angles,” Kumar said.

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