Updated September 11th, 2019 at 17:45 IST

West Bengal: BJP worker's body returned to family after standoff

BJP member, Swarup Gorai, was killed in West Bengal on Friday. Kolkata police deny family access to the body, keeping them away from performing the last rites.

Reported by: Digital Desk
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A two-day long tussle filled with twists and turns between the family of a slain BJP worker, Swarup Gorai, from Birbhum and Kolkata Police ended on Tuesday as the body of the deceased BJP worker was finally handed over to the family in Birbhum. It all started on Friday when Swarup Gorai, 55, was allegedly shot by miscreants in Nanoor area of Birbhum district in West Bengal. The family and the BJP alleged that there was a Trinamool Congress' (TMC) hand behind the incident. Gorai was immediately taken to a local hospital in Bolpur from where he was shifted to a private hospital in Kolkata.

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Kolkata Police deny the family access to body of deceased

After surviving for two nights with bullet injuries, Swarup Gorai lost his life on Sunday evening in Kolkata. Following his death, the body was taken to Nilratan Sircar Hospital (NRS) for post mortem. On Monday, BJP leaders and supporters wanted to take the dead body to the BJP headquarters in Kolkata to take out a procession. The family and leaders claimed that it was Swarup Gorai's last wish. Police did not allow it stating that the procession with the dead body might lead to a deterioration in law and order situation in the area.

Police had offered to take the dead body from NRS morgue to Birbhum, Ghorai’s home district and carry out the last rites. Family and BJP members had refused and desired to take his body on Tuesday morning. In a twist of events later that night, Kolkata Police took out Gorai's dead body from the morgue and sent it along with police to Birbhum district. On Tuesday morning, when Swarup Gorai's wife, Chaina, came to take the body from the morgue along with other BJP leaders, she claimed that she was unaware of her husband's body being shifted out. Chaina claimed that neither police nor morgue authorities informed her or her family. BJP leaders and Gorai's wife registered a formal complaint in the Entally Police Station against Kolkata Police and NRS hospital alleging that police had stolen her husband's body.

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In Bolpur, Birbum police posted a notice at Gorai’s home in Nanoor, West Bengal, asking the family to collect the body from Bolpur Super Speciality Hospital. The family and the BJP leaders allege that as they went to take the body of Swarup Gorai, hospital authorities asked them to get a release permit from Sub Divisional Police Officer's office. As the family and leaders were trying to clear this deadlock, agitated BJP workers started protesting by blocking the Bolpur-Nanoor high road and burning tyres. BJP MP from Bishnupur, Soumitra Khan, arrived at the spot and was seen protesting until the deadlock was over.

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Eventually, family gets to perform last rites

Swarup Gorai's body was finally handed over to the family late on Tuesday night after getting release permit from the Sub Divisional Police Officer's office. Last rites of Swarup Gorai was conducted on Wednesday morning by his family in his village in Nanoor, Birbhum. His wife, Chaina, claimed for an impartial enquiry not only regarding the death of her husband but also the events that followed it. BJP leadership is likely to move to Calcutta High Court to take up police's role in this incident.

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Published September 11th, 2019 at 14:42 IST