Congress leader, son killed in Nadia; panchayat chief among three arrested
KOLKATA: A Congress leader and his son were killed in West Bengal's Nadia district on the night of August 14, 2026, in a brutal attack that has triggered political outrage and fresh allegations against the ruling party. The deceased have been identified as Anishur Rahman, a local Congress leader, and his son Abu Sufiyan.
According to police, the father-son duo were travelling in a vehicle when unidentified persons opened fire at them near the Nakasipara railway gate. After the vehicle came to a halt following multiple rounds of firing, the attackers dragged both out and hacked them to death before fleeing the spot. The motive behind the killing is yet to be established, and a detailed investigation is underway.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the murders on Sunday, August 16. Among them is Fatema Bibi, the head of Haranagar panchayat in Nadia. Her two associates, Ali Mandal and Mithun Sheikh, have also been taken into custody. The trio were produced before a court in Krishnanagar, which remanded them to police custody for nine days to facilitate interrogation.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the region, with the Congress observing a 'Black Day' across West Bengal on Sunday in protest. The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee condemned the killings in a statement on social media, saying: "Nadia's Congress leader Anishur Rahman and his son Abu Sufiyan have been brutally murdered. We are calling upon all democracy-loving people to unite against the politics of this murder in Bengal." The party called for a thorough investigation and swift justice for the victims.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, speaking to reporters, directly accused activists of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of being responsible for the murders. He claimed that the Superintendent of Police of Nadia had informed him that a jailed TMC-linked individual, identified as Jubbar Sheikh, orchestrated the attack from prison. "Jubbar Sheikh is in jail there. He got it done from the jail. His wife, who is the Trinamool panchayat head, has been arrested. It is the Trinamool Congress that does the politics of murder," Mr. Adhikari said. The Chief Minister's remarks have intensified political tensions in the state.
Opposition leaders, including those from the Congress and the TMC, have expressed grave concern over the incident. While the TMC has not officially responded to the Chief Minister's allegations, several leaders from both parties stated that the murders point to a deteriorating law-and-order situation in West Bengal. They demanded that the administration take immediate steps to bring the culprits to justice and ensure the safety of political workers across the state.
The twin killings have also raised questions about the security of political figures in the state. Local residents in Nadia expressed fear and anger, with many demanding stronger police presence in the area. Meanwhile, forensic teams have been deployed at the crime scene, and police have launched a manhunt for the remaining attackers, if any.
This case has become the focal point of a bitter political battle in Bengal, with accusations and counter-accusations flying between the ruling party and the opposition. As the investigation progresses, all eyes are on the police to deliver a transparent and unbiased outcome. The court has ordered the accused to be produced again after the custody period ends, and further developments are expected in the coming days.
