West Bengal: Tension in Barasat after clashes break out during Suvendu Adhikari's rally
According to reports, a confrontation erupted when the BJP procession reached the Champadali More, in Barasat, where a TMC party office is located. The BJP has alleged that TMC workers made provocative remarks toward Adhikari, sparking a scuffle, and leading to stone-pelting and vandalism.
A BJP supporter was reportedly injured in the incident.
In response, the TMC supporters, reportedly, not only accused the BJP of instigating the violence, but also claimed that BJP participants shouted slogans to harass them and physically assaulted them, retaliating with sticks and water bottles, while they were standing near their party office. A banner featuring TMC leader Mamata Banerjee was also reportedly targeted.
Police personnel, including those from Rapid Action Battalion, were deployed to bring the situation under control, officials said. Several motorcycles were also reportedly vandalised in the chaos.
The senior BJP leader later claimed he was attacked in Barasat, but managed to escape, drawing a parallel to the Cooch Behar incident. Following the incident, Adhikari posted on X that the 'Kanya Suraksha Yatra' was a demand for the safety of women in the state, citing a rise in violence against women under the TMC government.
Adhikari further said that atrocities against women were on the rise in Bengal due to a 'complete collapse of law and order.'
There was no immediate response from the TMC regarding the allegations.
The incident comes a day after Adhikari's convoy was allegedly attacked by some people in Cooch Behar district on Tuesday afternoon. Security and police vehicles were vandalized, and Adhikari's bulletproof car was reportedly hit with sticks, stones. Police have also arrested several individuals. — With PTI
Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics.
With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences.
Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
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