Suchismita Deb Sharma, the district president of Trinamul women’s wing, and her party colleague Parbati Chanda were beaten up by a group of suspected BJP supporters on the outskirts of Cooch Behar town on Thursday.
Suchismita and Parbati have suffered serious injuries and are being treated at the MJN Medical College & Hospital. Some people have been detained for interrogation.
BJP leaders, however, have denied the charges.
Around 10am, Suchismita, along with some party supporters, went to Panigram, a village near Ghughumari close to the district headquarters, after getting information that on Wednesday, which was the Trinamul’s Martyrs’ Day event, BJP supporters had allegedly resorted to violence.
“When I reached the place, a group of BJP supporters assembled and started attacking us. When they started beating some of our women supporters, I intervened and they attacked me. I suffered injuries in my head and right hand. The police should take immediate steps and arrest all those involved in the incident,” Suchismita, also a member of the Zilla Parishad, said. “Since 2019 (Lok Sabha elections, in which BJP won in Cooch Behar), BJP workers have unleashed a reign of terror here and do not allow us to hold party functions. Yesterday (Tuesday) too, they lobbed bombs and ransacked homes of our workers,” she added.
The news of the attack spread across the district, prompting Trinamul supporters to block roads in a number of locations in protest. A delegation of Trinamul leaders have filed a complaint with Kotwali police.
Police from Kotwali police station also pacified the protesters at the roadblocks.
Suchismita and Parbati were brought to the medical college and hospital.
Later, Malati Rava, the district BJP president, went to the hospital and met Suchismita to enquire about her health.
Rava, however, brushed aside the assault charges. “It is not BJP but some Trinamul workers who indulge in violence at Panigram regularly. Many supporters of our party have been attacked and their houses ransacked. Whatever happened today is the fallout of inner differences among Trinamul lobbies,” she said.
