West Bengal police on Saturday arrested twelve people in Purulia in connection with an incident where three sadhus from Uttar Pradesh, en route to the Gangasagar Mela, were beaten by a furious mob on Thursday evening. It has been reported that the sadhus were suspected to be kidnappers. According to the officials privy to the matter, the accused will be presented before a court in the Purulia district.
Reacting to the incident, West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Shashi Panja said, "Some sadhus came to Purulia in a car with a UP number plate. They were assaulted by the locals on the suspicion of being abductors. 12 people have been arrested, and the case is being investigated."
Meanwhile, strongly condemning the attack on the sadhus in Bengal, BJP's IT Cell head, Amit Malviya launched a scathing attack on Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.
Later Malviya, in another post shared that BJP MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahto rescued the sadhus after Bengal police failed to provide protection. Malviya has also claimed that according to the local people, Anwar Sheikh, a TMC goonda and civic volunteer with the West Bengal police, orchestrated the attack.
All about the incident
As per media reports, the three sadhus had hired a vehicle to reach Gangasagar for the Makar Sankranti festival. The assault stemmed from some local people's suspicion of them being kidnappers as they asked about the route. According to the details, three teenage girls, whom the sadhus had asked about the route, screamed and ran away, prompting locals to apprehend and manhandle the sadhus.
As the situation escalated, local police intervened and rescued the sadhus and took them to the Kasipur Police Station.
What did the police say?
When asked about the incident, Abhijit Banerjee, Purulia Police Superintendent said a case was registered and investigations were underway. Police also said that raids were being conducted to apprehend those involved in the assault.
Police also mentioned that the sadhus had lost their way and had stopped to confirm the route with two girls. The girls got scared and ran away, they said, prompting locals to guess that the sadhus must have harassed the girls.
A transport to the Gangasagar Mela was later arranged for the sadhus, they said.
How did the BJP react?
Union minister Anurag Thakur was in the city to attend a programme and reacting to the incident reportedly said, "The politics of appeasement has led to such a situation. A curfew-like scenario is being created in Bengal (ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony) so that Hindus are not allowed to participate in the joyous moment. And now, there are allegations that the sadhus have been beaten up, and attempts were made to kill them."
He further asked, "The state government is not doing anything... Where is the appeasement politics taking West Bengal? Why is this anti-Hindu thought process being created?"
Reportedly, the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister also alleged that law and order in the state has collapsed under Mamata Banerjee's rule.
The West Bengal BJP leadership also accused the Trinamool Congress government of being behind the “assault” on the seers.
“Shocking incident from Purulia; sadhus en route to Gangasagar were stripped and beaten by criminals linked to TMC, echoing the Palghar tragedy. Under @MamataOfficial’s rule, a terrorist like Shahjahan gets state protection while sadhus face violence. Being Hindu is a crime in WB,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said on ‘X’.
He referred to the 2020 incident at Gadchinchale in Maharashtra's Palghar district, where a mob lynched two monks and their driver, suspecting them to be child-lifters.
The BJP leader also made mention of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, an accused in a multi-crore ration distribution scam.
Majumdar said he has got in touch with the seers and has assured them about their safe journey to the Gangasagar Mela.
