Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Raju Bista has alleged that his convoy came under attack on Saturday (October 18) while he was returning from a visit to flood-affected regions in North Bengal. The incident occurred near the Masdhura area close to Sukhia Pokhari in the Darjeeling district, prompting immediate police intervention.
According to officials, unidentified miscreants allegedly hurled stones at one of the vehicles in the convoy. While no injuries were reported, one car sustained damage. A complaint has been filed at the Jorebunglow Police Station, and officers are verifying CCTV footage and witness accounts to identify the attackers.
“A stone struck the vehicle in which the MP’s associate, Sanjeev Lama, was travelling,” a senior police officer said, confirming that an investigation is underway.
Raju Bista, who represents Darjeeling in the Lok Sabha, stated that the attack appeared to be “a deliberate attempt to disrupt peace” in the sensitive hill region. He claimed that the incident took place shortly after the government announced the appointment of an interlocutor for dialogue with stakeholders in North Bengal.
In Masdhura, near Sukhia Pokhari today, my convoy was attacked by unknown miscreants. Though those cowards had attacked me, the force of the attack fell on the vehicle immediately behind mine. The timing of the attack, following the announcement of an Interlocutor for our region,… pic.twitter.com/Ow8kkQm9P6
— Raju Bista (@RajuBistaBJP) October 18, 2025
“In Masdhura, near Sukhia Pokhari, my convoy was attacked by unknown miscreants. Though they targeted my car, the impact fell on the vehicle right behind mine,” Bista wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
He added, “The timing of this incident is suspicious. This seems like a conspiracy to disturb peace in the hills.”
Bista asserted that such attacks would not deter him or his supporters from working for the welfare of the hill communities. “If those loyal to Kolkata think we will be intimidated by such cowardly acts, they are mistaken. These attacks only strengthen our resolve to ensure lasting peace and development in Darjeeling,” he said.
Following the incident, the police have stepped up security in the Sukhia Pokhari and Masdhura regions, which have been badly affected by recent floods and landslides. Senior officials are supervising the investigation to determine whether the attack was spontaneous or premeditated.
This is the second such incident involving a BJP MP in North Bengal this month. Earlier, Khagen Murmu, MP from Maldaha Uttar, was allegedly attacked while visiting flood victims in another part of the region.
The twin incidents have raised political tensions in the hills, with the BJP alleging targeted attacks on its representatives.
