Hatihalka, a sleepy corner of Medinipur Sadar, turned into a battleground as the night of May 20th saw two rival groups slap each other with sticks, iron rods and a dreaded “tangi.” The clash erupted after a fresh wave of leadership appointments that unsettled long‑time party cadres.
Samsher Khan, a 35‑year‑old local businessman, was caught in the maelstrom and later pronounced dead at Medinipur Medical College. Residents say Khan was a BJP supporter, a claim the party’s newly appointed district president Soumen Tiwari has vehemently denied.
Tiwari told reporters he had only heard of the incident and that Khan was not a party worker. He urged the police to act swiftly and warned that the recent reshuffle had opened a power vacuum that could destabilise the area.
Police have deployed extra officers to Medinipur Medical College to keep the crowd in check after BJP workers staged a protest demanding the arrest of the culprits. A senior BJP leader, Ajay Jana, said the investigation would clarify the motives.
The authorities have called for a full inquiry, promising arrests once evidence is gathered, and the case is now headed to the state Crime Branch for a probe.