Cooch Behar: Political unrest erupted in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district on Thursday, August 7, after a pregnant woman was allegedly assaulted by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers for supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Dinhata's Salmara area, sparking outrage from party leaders.
On Thursday, August 7, BJP's Union Minister of State for Education and Development of North East Sukanta Majumdar, took to X, condemning the alleged assault.
Sharing a video of the woman in an ambulance, he wrote, “Witness the depths of savagery unleashed by the barbaric goons sheltered and fed by the Trinamool Congress!” He further claimed the eight-month pregnant Hindu woman was “brutally kicked in the stomach, simply for believing in BJP’s ideology.”
Have a look at his post here:
X Screengrab
He also criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying, “The Chief Minister, a woman herself, remains silent, even as women across the state are assaulted under her watch. Shameful.”
According to a report by Kolkata 24x7, BJP’s Cooch Behar Organising President Abhijit Barman said the attack was “an act of revenge” by TMC following arrests in connection with the vandalism of opposition leader Shuvendu Adhikari’s convoy.
BJP workers in the area are reportedly planning protest marches and road blockades in response.
Victim's Family Alleges Police Inaction
The victim’s mother, Jayanti Barman, told Kolkata 24x7, “In the morning, some Trinamool miscreants came to our house and started vandalising. When my pregnant daughter tried to stop them, they kicked her in the stomach.” She further alleged that ambulance access was blocked and that police present on site “did not take any effective action.”
As per the report, hospital sources also confirmed the woman’s condition is critical. A complaint has reportedly been filed against 42 individuals, including North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha.
Local TMC leader Bishu Dhar, however, denied the allegations, saying that the incident stemmed from BJP’s internal factionalism. “Trinamool has nothing to do with this. The police are investigating and the truth will come out,” he said, as quoted by Kolkata 24x7.
