West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Baduaria, June 2: The discovery of the hanging body of Jahidul Haque Baidya, head of the Trinamool-led Panchayat of Pingaleshwar village under Yadurhati North Gram Panchayat in Baduaria Police Station area of Basirhat subdivision, North 24 Parganas, has created widespread shock. On Tuesday morning, his body was found hanging in a room of his own house. Upon receiving the news, Baduaria police reached the spot. The body has been recovered and sent for postmortem examination.

May 31, allegations of corruption arose against the Panchayat head regarding 12 battery-operated waste collection toto vehicles received under the Swachh Bharat Mission project. The allegation is that out of the 12 totos received under the government project three years ago, only three remain, while the other nine were sold, according to locals. A written complaint regarding this matter was also filed at Baduaria police station.

Additionally, an allegation emerged that a villager was assaulted over the removal of the totos. The injured individual received medical treatment at a hospital and subsequently filed a complaint at the police station. Locals claim that the Panchayat head was in hiding for a few days following the incident. On Monday evening, he returned home, and the next morning his hanging body was discovered. According to his family, he may have taken his own life due to the pressure of corruption allegations and social humiliation. However, the police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of death.