On Thursday (27th June), a Muslim woman was subjected to a brutal attack in Ruidanga village in the Matha Bhanga-II block in Coochbehar district of West Bengal. She was "stripped, dragged for 1 km by her hair and thrashed for over an hour" by a group of individuals. This grievous assault was reportedly due to her political affiliation as a supporter of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The victim is currently undergoing treatment at the Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Medical College & Hospital, recovering from the severe injuries sustained during the attack. The details surrounding this incident indicate that the attackers were allegedly affiliated with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and targeted her because of her active role as a worker of the opposition BJP in the state.

In response to this violent act, the victim’s father has filed a complaint with the police, seeking justice for his daughter and action against the perpetrators. The case has brought attention to the ongoing political tensions in the region and the safety of individuals expressing their political beliefs.

According to the police complaint, tension has been high in the area since the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections on 4th June 2024. The local TMC cadre reportedly restricted the woman from leaving her house. This ongoing intimidation escalated dramatically last Thursday.

The victim, while returning home from a nearby park, was brutally attacked by a group of TMC goons. They "stripped her and then dumped her clothes in a river." The assailants didn't stop there; they further threatened to "break her house if she dared to step out again." In response to these grave offenses, the Cooch Behar police have acted by detaining four individuals. Among them is the primary accused, Shafiqul.

Shafiqul specifically is accused of taking particularly heinous actions during the assault. He allegedly "captured the naked picture of the victim during the assault and disseminated it on social media platforms." This act has added a layer of violation and distress to the already grievous assault, with severe implications for the victim's privacy and mental health.

In a recent statement released on X (formerly Twitter), the 'BJP West Bengal' official account detailed the brutal attack on Rosonara Khatun, a member of the BJP Minority Morcha in Coochbehar, West Bengal. The tweet described the incident as a "horrifying display of political violence" where Rosonara Khatun was "savagely beaten."

Further detailing the assault, the account mentioned, "Dragged by her hair and assaulted at Ramthenga Market, her crime was supporting the BJP. This barbaric act has outraged the Muslim community, and the safety of women and political dissenters is under grave threat," highlighting the severe implications of such violent acts on community safety and political freedom.

Additionally, the tweet criticized the current state governance with a stark remark, "This is Mamata’s Bengal: where violence silences opposition." This comment underscores the party's stance on the political climate in West Bengal.

BJP's national spokesperson, Amit Malviya, also weighed in on the incident, strongly condemning the attack. He stated, "There is a #Sandeshkhali in every village of Bengal. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice. Concerns over political violence and safety of women under Mamata Banerjee remains a huge concern," expressing a broader critique of the political environment and the ongoing concerns regarding safety and political dissent.

Turmoil in Sandeshkhali

The recent unrest in Sandeshkhali village in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal has highlighted severe allegations of misconduct against women involving former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan, along with his aides Shibu Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar. This incident has thrown a spotlight on the grievances faced by the local community.

Many women from the area have courageously stepped forward, sharing their distressing experiences. They reported "instances of land grabbing, and sexual violence perpetrated against them by the trio." Overwhelmed by their circumstances and seeking justice, these women initiated a protest that involved surrounding the local police station, demanding action.

Their collective efforts and the public outcry that followed had significant repercussions. The protest "eventually led to the arrest of the 3 TMC goons." This development marks a critical response to the issues raised by the women of Sandeshkhali.

Furthermore, according to a report by OpIndia, the actions and responses of the Trinamool Congress, under the leadership of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have been heavily criticized. The report noted that the party has "left no stone unturned to trivialise the sexual violence committed against women in Sandeshkhali."

Besides Mamata Banerjee, other prominent members of the TMC have also made controversial remarks regarding the situation in Sandeshkhali. TMC MLA Udayan Guha downplayed the sexual exploitation incidents as "eating pie (Pitha khaowa)" and "mischief (Dushtami)" on 29th February, minimizing the severity of the accusations brought forth by the women of the community.

In addition, TMC spokesperson Jui Biswas expressed skepticism about the claims of sexual violence by demanding "video footage of rapes" as evidence, a statement that has sparked significant controversy regarding the party's approach to such serious allegations.

Journalist Sagarika Ghose, who has recently been appointed to the Rajya Sabha by the TMC, also weighed in on the matter, describing the intense unrest in Sandeshkhali village merely as a "local land dispute," further diminishing the gravity of the accusations reported by the victims.

Furthermore, TMC Minister Partha Bhowmick had previously dismissed the claims of sexual violence by women from Sandeshkhali village as "fake." Similarly, on 10th March, actress turned TMC candidate from Hooghly, Rachna Banerjee, was also reported to have cast doubts about the sexual violence allegations, which continues to contribute to the controversy surrounding the party's response to the serious issues facing the women in Sandeshkhali.