SHAMEFUL: Woman Stripped Naked, Dragged And Thrashed in Cooch Behar

Cooch Behar: Sensation prevailed after a leader from the TMC allegedly dragged, thrashed and stripped naked a woman leader from the BJP at Cooch Behar in West Bengal. The TMC leader allegedly asked the BJP leader, a member of the party's Mahila Morcha wing, why was she in the saffron party despite being from a minority community. The TMC, however, called the allegations false and claimed the that BJP was fabricating the same for ‘publicity.’

The woman filed a complaint at Ghoksadanga Police Station in Mathabhanga, which led to the arrest of four.

According to the cops, the woman complained that on June 25, when she was going to work in the field, some TMC women workers surrounded her and beat her naked. The complainant claimed that she was beaten up because she was from a minority community and yet a member of the BJP. She claimed her saree was taken off and later, was thrown into the river. She was reportedly dragged along the road for about a kilometre. Reports suggest that after the woman got unconscious, she was left at home.

The BJP claimed that the cops refused to register any formal complaint initially. It was only later, after pressurising them, that the complaint was accepted and an FIR was lodged.

BJP District President Sukumar Roy said, “There is no law and order in the state. A woman was stripped and beaten. Initially, the police did not take complaints. We have complained to the Director General of Police. Finally, under pressure, the police filed a complaint. This is not just one incident. TMC leaders everywhere continue to persecute BJP workers. This is their grassroots culture. The ruling party has denied all the allegations.”

Cooch Behar District Trinamool Chairman Girindranath Barman said, “Trinamool is not connected with this incident. It has been seen several times that BJP has made such false cases. Whether this is also such an incident or not, it will be investigated.” BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, said he has written to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Commission for Women (NCW) and National Commission for Minorities (NCM) about the incident, urging them to investigate the incident that happened on June 25, after which the NCW took suo moto cognisance of the incident.

 "A female leader of BJP Minority Morcha was beaten up by TMC goons in Gokhasdanga. Her clothes were also torn in public. She is at present admitted to a hospital. The police are not taking any action against the accused," he alleged. Adhikari expressed hope that teams of the NHRC, NCW, and NCM would soon visit the area. 

The victim told reporters from the hospital, "TMC goons said they were punishing me for being associated with the BJP." The TMC dubbed the allegations as baseless, claiming that the incident was the fallout of a property dispute. "The TMC has nothing to do with the incident. This incident is the result of a property dispute. The allegations are baseless and politically motivated," a party leader from the district said. Police said they were investigating the matter. (with PTI inputs)