Kolkata: A 21-year-old man in Kolkata died on May 18, nearly two weeks after he was allegedly stabbed during a Bharatiya Janata Party victory procession on the day when the assembly election votes were counted. The death has revived questions on Bengal’s recurring pattern of political victory processions turning violent, months after a minor, Tamanna Khatun, was killed during the Kaliganj bypoll celebrations.Arghya Das, one of four young men injured in the May 4 violence, died at a city hospital on the morning of May 18. He had been undergoing treatment since the incident, which took place at the Lahar Math area of Ward 67 of Kasba shortly after it became apparent that the BJP would win the polls.According to local residents and Das’s family, BJP supporters took out a victory procession in the area after the party’s win became clear. Witnesses said the supporters smeared themselves with saffron colours and were loudly shouting “Jai Shri Ram” as they walked in the procession. At one point, locals protested against the fact that the revellers had become rowdy. It was in retaliation that a section of the BJP supporters turned violent. A skirmish ensued in which protesting locals were attacked by the revellers. Residents alleged that one Jitendra Prasad Singh and his two brothers, who were known as musclemen in the locality and had earlier faced resistance from local people over their behaviour, were responsible for the escalation.Arghya’s cousin, Koushik, also suffered an abdominal injury but was released after receiving first aid. Arghya and two others were hospitalised for treatment.Despite the fact that a complaint naming the accused has been filed at the Kasba police station, and an FIR was registered, residents alleged that no arrests have been made so far. Instead, they said, police have baton-charged locals, including women, when they protested two days after the incident, on May 6, and demanded action against the accused.“When we protested against the killing, the police beat us. They are protecting the attackers’ family instead of questioning them,” alleged one of Arghya’s neighbours. Also read: In Bengal’s Poll Violence, It is the Poor Who Pay in BloodArghya’s maternal uncle, Ashis Das, told The Wire that he brought Arghya up. Ashis works at a small private company. He said Arghya had no political affiliations and was focused on sports.“I brought him up since he was six months old. My boy did not have any political affiliations. Yet, they killed him in broad daylight because we locals protested against their violent behaviour,” Ashis said.On May 18, local CPI(M) leaders Shatarup Ghosh and Dipu Das – the latter had been a candidate in the recent polls – visited Arghya’s home in Kasba. “A young man has been killed in broad daylight. Local people saw the attackers, and there is testimony from the injured as well. Despite this, what have the police done? They have not even conducted a proper investigation in the last 15 days,” Ghosh said.Ghosh also claimed that the attackers fled after being chased by local residents, leaving behind a motorcycle. “That bike is still here,” he said.The Wire reached out to Kasba police station officer-in-charge Sourav Bhattacharya, who refused to comment on the case, citing lack of authorisation. The Wire has also contacted the Deputy Commissioner, South Suburban Division, Kolkata Police. A response is awaited.Arghya’s death has once again brought attention to West Bengal’s long history of post-election clashes, where victory processions often become displays of intimidation and retaliation.Only months earlier, young Tamanna Khatun was killed during celebrations after the Kaliganj bypoll in Nadia district. In that case, a crude bomb was allegedly hurled during a Trinamool Congress victory procession. Tamanna’s family had alleged that the violence was politically targeted, as she was the daughter of a CPI(M) supporter.For residents of Kasba, Arghya’s death is not just another case of local violence. It is, they say, the killing of a young man who became a victim of political aggression simply because people in his neighbourhood objected to intimidation on their streets.