Suvendu's convoy attacked in Cooch Behar: ‘TMC murder plan'

Indian Express

2 days ago

The convoy of Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, was allegedly attacked by some people in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal on Tuesday afternoon.
Glasses of the bulletproof vehicle in which Adhikari and former Union minister Nisith Pramanik were seated were smashed, it was alleged. Also, the windowpanes of at least one police escort vehicle were shattered, it is learnt.
The BJP alleged that the purported attack, which took place in the Khagrabari area of the district, was carried out by Trinamool Congress workers.
The TMC, on the other hand, dubbed the incident a 'well-scripted drama'.
Adhikari was travelling to meet the superintendent of police (SP) over alleged oppression of party workers in the district, after securing an order from the Calcutta High Court. He was also scheduled to hold a party meeting in the district.
The TMC organised protests at 19 spots along the route of the convoy in Cooch Behar against the possibility of NRC implementation in West Bengal, harassment of migrant labourers and disrespect to Bengali language. Chanting 'Joy Bangla' and 'go back' slogans, the party workers showed block flags to the convoy. Later, stones were allegedly pelted at the convoy and cars were attacked with bamboo sticks.
Speaking to mediapersons after the incident, Adhikari alleged, 'The TMC under the leadership of Udayan Guha (Dinhata MLA and North Bengal Development Minister) carried out the attack in the presence of police. They smashed the glass of a bulletproof car with stones. I was in a bulletproof car which saved me. The TMC gathered Rohingyas who had infiltrated this region and made them carry out the attack.'
'They tried to smash the car in which I was moving with rods and sticks and, after they failed, shattered the bulletproof glasses with heavy stones,' he added.
Stating that he was alive because of the bulletproof vehicle, the BJP leader said he would go against the SP for the law and order breakdown with the full force of the law. 'I had taken necessary steps of informing the police and the administration before coming here, since this programme has the sanction of the High Court, and because I had a hunch that something like this could happen. Now the SP will face the music,' he added.
Lok Sabha MP and former state BJP chief Sukanta Majumder said, 'This is unacceptable. TMC goons attacked the convoy of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. This could not have happened without the approval of the TMC top brass. Our state president has asked us to protest across Bengal and we will do it.'
Former Lok Sabha MP and Union minister of state Nisith Paramanik, who was part of the convoy, said, 'It was a pre-planned attack. We asked our security personnel to stay calm. They even broke the glasses of bulletproof cars. The TMC is really desperate.'
He further said Guha was present at a local religious institution and instructed the mob to carry out the attack. 'It was an attempt on our lives,' he claimed.
Countering the BJP's allegations, TMC's Cooch Behar district president Partha Pratim Roy said, 'Today, people of Bengal and TMC workers showed black flags and protested against the BJP. Our workers staged a peaceful demonstration. No one was involved in violence. The BJP staged the incident to get sympathy.' 'The BJP orchestrated this violence on their own to settle internal scores and grab media footage,' he said.
TMC minister Udayan Guha said, 'Our workers and people protested against the BJP's proposal to bring in NRC in Bengal. Whoever is trying to insult Bengali language, harass our workers in other states will face the wrath of the people.'
— with PTI Inputs