A 50-year-old resident of Bagabatipur in Chanditala, identified as a BJP female worker, was admitted to Serampore Walsh Hospital with severe acid burn injuries following an alleged attack at her residence on Friday night.
The victim, who also served as a BJP booth agent during the panchayat elections, claims she had been enduring relentless harassment from TMC-affiliated individuals who had targeted her home on multiple occasions. Despite filing complaints, the police did not take any action. Frustrated with this inaction, the victim once resorted to pouring kerosene on herself in an attempt to self-immolate in front of the police.
The victim further contends that last Friday, TMC-affiliated individuals assaulted her residence in the morning, and later that same night, subjected her to an acid attack, resulting in severe injuries from the burns.
BJP leader Kabir Shank Bose said: “A number of times our woman party workers have been attacked by TMC- backed goons, but police never arrested anyone. Last night the goons attacked her with acid causing serious burn injuries. We will wage a legal and political fight against the atrocities on women by TMC-backed goons.”
TMC district president Arindom Guin claimed the party is not involved in any way in the incident. Such incidents have taken place due to the ongoing infighting within the BJP, he said.
Hooghly Rural Police Superintendent Kamanasish Sen said complaints have been lodged from both sides, and an investigation is on.
On September 30, Organiser reported a case from Bangaon area of West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district where the mother of a BJP worker was beaten to death by the TMC goons.
Reports indicate that the incident took place in Manikheda village, Thakurnagar, Bangaon. The deceased, Kanan Devi, was protesting against local youths, including TMC supporters led by Sameer Mallik, who were causing a disturbance in an intoxicated state near her residence. It was during this confrontation that Sameer Mallik launched the attack on her.
Residents claim that Sameer Mallik has a history of behaving poorly towards Kanan Devi’s family. On the day of the incident, he subjected Kanan Devi and her family members to verbal abuse and aggressive behaviour. When Jayant Roy, the deceased woman’s son and a BJP worker, intervened to protest, Sameer and his associates assaulted him, inflicting severe injuries.
Witnessing this brutality, Jayant’s elderly parents courageously stepped in to protect their son. At this point, Sameer escalated the violence by also assaulting Jayant’s parents. He targeted Jayant’s mother, Kanan Devi, striking her head with a bamboo stick.
The family of the deceased maintained that the attack was politically motivated, emphasizing that TMC henchmen led by Sameer Mallik assaulted Jayant Roy’s family because of their staunch support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“We supported the BJP, and due to political enmity, Samir Mallik killed Kanan Roy. He received orders from TMC’s Bangaon organisational district youth president, Nirupam Roy,” the family stated.
The neighbourhood seethed with anger after the incident. Many locals contended that Nirupam Roy, the local youth Trinamool leader, condoned the murder. He held the position of Bongaon Trinamool’s organizational district youth president. A gathering of furious villagers began to assemble in front of his residence on Thursday morning (September 28). Protesters argued that Nirupam had been attempting to exert his influence in the area since assuming the role of Trinamool’s youth president.
Jayant Roy, the deceased’s son, asserted that Trinamool leaders and workers in his area, including Sameer, had been consistently harassing them because of their affiliation with the BJP. “They insult us whenever they pass in front of our house. I will continue to protest until I receive justice,” he lamented.
