Brutal assault on couple in eastern India sparks outrage and political backlash
by Aditi VermaA violent assault on a couple allegedly involved in an illicit relationship has ignited widespread outrage in eastern India’s West Bengal. The incident was reportedly sanctioned by a local ‘salishi sabha’ (kangaroo court), leading to a swift response from both the police and political parties.
The incident took place in the Chopra area of Uttar Dinajpur district on June 29.
Visuals showed a man viciously beating a woman, causing her visible distress, while also attacking another man with a bamboo stick. The brutality of the assault has shocked the local community and drawn widespread condemnation.
The West Bengal Police quickly registered a case after confirming the authenticity of a disturbing video depicting the assault. Islampur Police Superintendent Joby Thomas K confirmed the initiation of raids to apprehend the main accused and promised a thorough investigation into the motive behind the attack.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) were quick to condemn the incident. They accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of being complicit in what they termed as “bulldozer justice” under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s governance.
“This is the ugly face of Mamata Banerjee’s rule in West Bengal. The guy in the video, who is beating up a woman mercilessly, is famous for giving quick justice through his ‘insaf’ sabha and is a close associate of Chopra MLA Hamidur Rahaman,” BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya said in a post on X.
Malviya claimed that “there is a Sandeshkhali in every village of West Bengal and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is a curse for women.” He further criticized the state’s law and order situation, asking if Banerjee would act against the assailant or defend him as she allegedly did with Sheikh Shahjahan.
The incident has put a spotlight on the issue of extrajudicial justice in West Bengal and raised questions about the state’s governance and commitment to law and order.