West Bengal: CID arrests 2 for BJP leader Manish Shukla's murder; cops suspect old rivalry

A day after BJP leader Manish Shukla was killed by unknown assailants in Titagarh, the West Bengal CID on October 5 arrested two persons in connection with the case. The two have been identified as Md Khurram and Gulab Sheikh. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the BJP leader may have been killed because of personal enmity and not because of any political reasons.

Kolkata: The Criminal Investigation Department arrested two persons on October 6 in connection with the murder of BJP leader Manish Shukla who was shot dead in North 24 Parganas.

The two have been identified as Md Khurram and Gulab Sheikh. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the BJP leader may have been killed because of personal enmity and not because of any political reason.

Mohammad Khurram was a businessman by profession. According to sources, Manish Shukla had an old business feud with Khurram. Out of personal grievances, Mohammad Khurram allegedly killed Manish Shukla.

During the investigation, the detectives found that the enmity between Manish and Khurram was known to many people. Khurram's father was a CPM leader. He was also killed. It is believed that Manish Shukla was involved in that incident as well. Therefore, Mohammad Khurram contacted Gulab Sheikh to kill Manish Shukla. Police claimed that Manish Shukla was not killed in a political clash.

Meanwhile, high drama unfolded on October 5 evening after Manish Shukla's body underwent post-mortem at Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRSMCH) in Kolkata. The post-mortem report revealed 14 bullet injuries on the body showing how mercilessly the councillor was killed in absence of his security personnel who were apparently on leave on October 4.

Infuriated, the BJP leadership headed to Raj Bhavan with the body in a convoy of cars from NRSMCH. They were however stopped by a large contingent of police personnel who put up barricades near New Market area of the city to block the rally of the cars with the body. Failing to move ahead, the BJP leaders had a heated altercation with the cops.

Later, it was decided that only a BJP delegation would be allowed to go to Raj Bhavan. Accompanied by senior party leaders, Shukla's father Chandra Mani met the Governor at Raj Bhavan. The body was taken to Titagarh at night for last rites.