West Bengal: 12 Arrested After Video Of Sadhus Stripped, Assaulted By Mob In Purulia Goes Viral

12 people got arrested on Saturday by West Bengal police over the sadhu attack incident in West Bengal's Purulia district. According to the police, there was a language problem that led to the untoward incident. "Three sadhus were going to Gangasagar mela. There was a language problem between them and three minor girls in Kashipur district where the incident happened. The mob thinking it to be a kidnapping case had vandalized the car in which the sadhus were travelling. However, the police took prompt action and have arrested 12 people," said a local police.

One of the affected sadhus however, said that they had stopped their car to ask about the route towards Gangasagar. "We didn't understand what exactly happened as we had stopped to ask about the route. Then suddenly the three girls started shouting in their language and the mob then started beating us," mentioned the sadhu.

Political slugfest over the incident

Purulia Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato reached the spot and rescued the saints. Union Minister Anurag Thakur who had visited Kolkata on Saturday slammed the incident.

"At a time when everyone is chanting the name of Lord Ram, the Hindus of West Bengal are not even allowed to be happy. The saints are being beaten up. Why such an anti-hindu stance," questioned Thakur.

Taking to X, BJP leader Amit Malviya said, "Absolutely shocking incident reported from Purulia in West Bengal. In a Palghar kind lynching, sadhus traveling to Gangasagar for Makar Sankranti, were stripped and beaten by criminals, affiliated with the ruling TMC. In Mamata Banerjee’s regime, a terrorist like Shahjahan Sheikh gets state protection and sadhus are being lynched. It is a crime to be a Hindu in West Bengal."

Trinamool Congress (TMC) minister Shashi Panja said, "BJP is trying to use their old practise of spreading rumors and also trying to politicize the same."