'Don't Seek Sympathy': Daughter Killed in TMC Victory Rally, Sabina Yasmin Is Keen to Focus Her Fight on More Issues

Kaliganj (Bengal): “I am Tamanna’s mother. My daughter was brutally killed in a barbaric act of savage celebration by the state ruling party. I do not seek sympathy. I only wish that no mother’s arms are left empty, that no flower withers before its time.”

Amid the ongoing West Bengal legislative assembly elections, Sabina Yasmin's appeal echoes through the air of Kaliganj assembly constituency in Nadia district. A grieving mother who lost her child allegedly at the hands of the Trinamool Congress's supporters who were celebrating a by-poll victory with bombs, is the Left Front-affiliated Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate.

Kaliganj is located nearly 170 kilometres to the north of Kolkata. The Kaliganj assembly constituency comprises 13 gram panchayats, most of them inhabited by working-class and economically disadvantaged people. A significant portion of the population in the area belongs to the minority Muslim community.

Under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, around 13,000 voters in this constituency were reportedly marked as “deleted” from the electoral rolls. In Molandi, Sabina Yasmin’s village, as many as 428 voters have been deleted.

The day Tamanna died

As The Wire has reported before, on June 23, 2025, following the Trinamool Congress’s victory in the Kaliganj assembly constituency by-election, it is alleged that TMC supporters, during a drunken celebration of their win, threw a bomb at Tamanna Khatun, a Class 4 student from Molandi village in Nadia. She was killed instantly. Her father, Hossan Sheikh, is a migrant labourer and it was well known that he is a supporter of the CPI(M).

Tamanna Khatun, killed by a crude bomb explosion in Kaliganj, West Bengal. Photo: By arrangement/File.

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The initial outrage, with people demanding the arrest and strict punishment of the perpetrators, continues as of the 24 accused in the murder, 14 remain absconding, according to Kaliganj Police Station records. However, residents of Molandi village allege that many of them are, in fact, moving about openly in the locality.

Locals have raised serious questions about the role of the police, claiming that the authorities have failed to trace the accused.

Many in the area allege that the very individuals accused in Tamanna’s killing are also involved in booth-level electoral malpractice and loot.

But the wider politics of it all shrinks when you speak to Yasmin.

In the midst of her election campaign, she told The Wire, “Since the murder of my only child, I have not been able to close my eyes even for a single day. Her lifeless body keeps haunting me. It feels as though she is asking me, ‘Mother, I knew nothing about politics, then why was I killed like this? What was my fault?’ From that day on, I have not paused for a single moment in my demand for justice.”

It is reported that after Tamanna’s murder, Kaliganj TMC MLA Alifa Ahmed did not visit her family even once. BJP activists also stayed away.

A few days after the incident, Bharatpur TMC MLA Humayun Kabir came to Tamanna’s mother, offering financial assistance. “She refused it with contempt,” said a neighbour, Mosnema Bibi. “She made it clear to the ruling party MLA that she would not be swayed by money. All she wants is justice for her daughter, and she will continue to fight for it.”

But Yasmin has paid a heavy price for her pursuit of justice. On the night of July 22 last year, police from Kaliganj Police Station allegedly launched another attack on their home, targeting even her neighbours. The motive, residents claim, was to intimidate witnesses.

The next day, Sabina Yasmin, along with her husband Hossan Sheikh and local Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) workers, staged a protest before the Krishnanagar Superintendent of Police, demanding accountability and protection.

Yasmin has since been a part of several agitation platforms in Kolkata, demanding justice for the trainee doctor who was raped and killed at Kolkata's R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. The victim's mother in this case is also a candidate in the poll fray this time, from the BJP.

On March 4-5, Yasmin was also present at a protest organised by Left parties in front of the Election Commission’s office in Kolkata opposing the SIR.

Sabina Yasmin, with other left leaders, on the campaign trail. Photo: Madhu Sudan Chatterjee.

A day in the life

Rising as early as 5 am, Sabina Yasmin prepares a simple meal of rice and boiled potatoes over the household stove before setting out for the day. Accompanied by her husband, Hossain Sheikh, and several CPI(M) workers, she then sets out on the campaign trail across villages.

What begins with a small group of supporters gradually transforms into a growing procession. As the campaign moves, villagers join in, inspired by the martyr’s mother. The number of people walking alongside her increases.

Sabina Yasmin's campaign meeting at Kaliganj. Photo: Madhu Sudan Chatterjee.

During a campaign visit to Nasipur village under the Gobra gram panchayat two days ago, Yasmin says, "If Tamanna were alive today, she would have been happy to see her mother fighting for the poor.”

Yasmin is keen to not just talk about her personal plight. A few days ago, while campaigning in Debagram, Yasmin highlighted the poor state of health care in the region. “The condition of the Debagram hospital is extremely bad. The situation is no better at Palashi hospital,” she said. To this reporter, she further says out that most hospitals in Kaliganj lack adequate doctors and health care staff, and that even basic pathological tests are often unavailable at local health centres. “Where will poor people find the money to seek treatment in private hospitals?” she asks. “That is why one of our primary demands is the improvement of health services.”

She also raises the issue of the closed sugar mill in Kaliganj. “There used to be a functioning sugar mill here, but it was shut down after the TMC came to power. We demand that this sugar mill be reopened,” she adds.

Sabina Yasmin, on the campaign trail. Photo: Madhu Sudan Chatterjee.

This reporter met Mukul Sheikh, a former worker of the now defunct sugar mill. Now, he earns a living by driving an e-rickshaw. "Once nearly 2,000 people were employed at the mill. Now, some have taken up work as masons, some have turned to hawking, while others sell lottery tickets just to make ends meet,” he says. A significant number of workers have been forced to migrate to other states in search of livelihoods. “Neither the TMC nor the BJP has spoken even once about reopening this mill,” he adds.

During campaign visits to villages such as Nasipur and Hatkhola, many women greet Yasmin with tears in their eyes.

Rezina Bibi, a resident of Nasipur, tells her, “We have heard about Tamanna."

But to this reporter, Rezina says that there is fear at play as well. "Activists from the ruling TMC are saying that if we do not vote for them, the Lakshmir Bhandar benefits will be stopped," she says.

Sabina Yasmin, on the campaign trail. Photo: Madhu Sudan Chatterjee.

But Yasmin steps in. “Who will stop it? These are completely false claims. If the Left Front comes to power, each family will have employment arranged for at least one unemployed youth. The allocation for Lakshmir Bhandar will increase, and there will be no misuse of funds. Is the Chief Minister paying from her own pocket? This is the people’s money,” says Yasmin.

She urges voters not to be swayed by fear or misinformation. “You are free to vote for whomever you choose, but do not let fear or falsehood influence your decision,” she says.

Nurjahan Begam, a resident of Nasipur, tells her, “If you win, it will be a victory for all mothers.”

In Kaliganj, throughout the campaign, Sabina Yasmin has been accompanied by Left foot soldiers like Mustakin Sheikh, Adnan Habib, Yasmin Khatun, Mousumi Khatun, Chandana Basu, Nurjahan Mondal, Debojit Acharya, Chandana Haldar, and Asan Sheikh. The campaigns continue from early morning until late at night.

The TMC has nominated the outgoing MLA, Afifa Ahmed, who had won the by-election on June 23, 2025. The BJP candidate is Ratan Mondal. Both contesting candidates declined to comment on CPI(M) candidate’s candidature and campaign.