Family feud in Bengal’s Matua stronghold exposes BJP rift
A bitter feud within the influential Thakur family of the Matua community has erupted into the open, exposing cracks in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal and raising speculation about shifting political allegiances. The row centres on a Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) assistance camp being run inside the historic Nat Mandir (temple hall) at Thakurnagar, the seat of the Matua sect. The initiative, spearheaded by BJP MP and Union Minister Shantanu Thakur, offers refugees from Bangladesh help in filing CAA applications – a politically sensitive issue ahead of elections. But Shantanu’s cousin, Subrata Thakur, BJP MLA from Gaighata and also head of the All India Matua Mahasangh, has publicly opposed the move. He questioned why a religious space was being used for political purposes. “The Nat Mandir is meant for devotees, not for political camps,” Subrata said, accusing his younger brother of monopolising power within the sect. The clash escalated on Saturday after Shantanu organised a special camp at the temple. Subrata objected, alleging that the sanctity of the site was being compromised, while Shantanu countered that the camp was serving devotees by helping them access their CAA rights. “No political activity is being done. We are only ensuring devotees face no difficulty in applying,” the minister said. The dispute has split the family. Subrata’s mother, Shibirani Thakur, and aunt Mamata Bala Thakur, a Trinamool Congress MP, have backed him, accusing Shantanu of using the temple for partisan gains. Mamata Bala confirmed she had held talks with Subrata, though she insisted the discussions were limited to the temple and devotees’ concerns, not politics. On the other side, the family patriarch, former state minister Manjul Krishna Thakur, came out in defence of his younger son Shantanu, saying he himself had authorised the camp as chief sevayat (caretaker) of the sect. “Differences should have been resolved within the family. Bringing outsiders and the Trinamool into the matter is unacceptable,” he said, criticising Subrata and his mother. The BJP MLA, however, dismissed accusations of defecting to the Trinamool. “Family comes first, politics later. I only spoke to my mother, aunt and sister regarding the Nat Mandir. It was about the devotees’ convenience,” Subrata told reporters. Shantanu, meanwhile, alleged that his elder brother was “looking for an excuse to join the Trinamool Congress” with ambitions of becoming a minister. The Matua community, numbering several million in Bengal, is seen as a decisive voting bloc, particularly in North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts. With many members tracing roots to erstwhile East Pakistan, the promise of citizenship under the CAA has been a major BJP plank. Analysts say the public spat highlights the fragility of BJP’s hold over the Matua vote bank and could weaken its prospects if the family feud deepens further.
WBNUJS launches hybrid master’s in criminology
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) has launched a two-year hybrid postgraduate programme in criminology and criminal justice, offering both M.A. and M.Sc. degree options. The course was launched in the presence of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, Justice Ananya Banerjee and Justice Sugata Majumdar of the Calcutta High Court, Dr. Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarti, Vice-Chancellor of WBNUJS, Sanjay Singh, IPS, DIG (Cyber Crime), West Bengal Police, and Manoj Kumar Roy, probation officer. The course, unveiled in Kolkata in the presence of three Calcutta High Court judges, senior police officials and academics, is aimed at students and working professionals seeking advanced training in crime and justice studies. The programme combines law, social sciences and forensic science, with courses on cybercrime, victimology, forensic technology, prison management and predictive crime analysis. M.A. candidates will study three specialised forensic papers, while M.Sc. candidates will take five. Vice-Chancellor Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarti said the initiative, aligned with India’s National Education Policy 2020, would prepare professionals for careers in criminal justice administration, policing, forensics, corrections and policy research. “The hybrid format is especially attractive for working professionals. This programme responds to society’s urgent need for skilled experts in crime management and justice delivery,” Chakrabarti said. WBNUJS, set up under a 1999 state law, ranked fourth in India’s 2023 national law school rankings and recently received an A+ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council. Admissions, open to Indian and international candidates, require at least 50% marks in undergraduate studies.
BJP Youh Leader’s Murder Sparks Political Row in West Bengal
The brutal killing of a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district has triggered a political firestorm, with the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition BJP trading accusations over the motive behind the crime. Police said on Sunday that a search is underway for two more suspects in connection with the death of Rajib Biswas, a BJP booth president in Baruipur, who was assaulted and set ablaze on August 8. His father and brother, both accused of leading the attack, have already been arrested. According to investigators, Biswas was kicked, punched, and beaten with bamboo sticks and sharp weapons before being set on fire inside a house, which has since been sealed. He later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities have described the incident as a fallout of a long-running family feud. The BJP, however, has rejected the police version, insisting that the murder was politically motivated. Party leaders allege that Biswas’s father and brother were members of the TMC and claim that the two other men still at large are also affiliated with the ruling party. “This was not just a family matter. Rajib Biswas was murdered because he refused to bow down,” BJP leader Sankudeb Panda said. He alleged that the killing followed a dispute over putting up BJP flags and posters of Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly. Panda also shared a video on social media purportedly showing the attack, in which two men can be seen beating a youth as he screams for help, while two others stand by. The footage has not been independently verified by PTI or other news outlets. Calling the murder “an act of political vendetta,” Panda demanded that the investigation be handed over to a central agency, arguing that the state police could not be trusted to act impartially. The TMC has strongly denied any link to the incident. Local councillor Archana Mallick said that those arrested were not members of the ruling party. “On August 9, I was informed by some family members that the youth was in critical condition. I advised them to take him to hospital, and later I heard he had died. This is purely a family dispute. The BJP is trying to give it a political twist,” Mallick said. She added: “We don’t believe in the politics of murder. Those responsible must be punished.” The killing has deepened tensions in the politically volatile district, which has long witnessed clashes between supporters of the BJP and TMC.
CBI questions TMC lawmaker Sudipto Roy in RG Kar Medical College corruption probe
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday visited the residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Sudipta Roy in Kolkata’s Sinthee area as part of its ongoing probe into alleged corruption at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. According to sources, two CBI officers arrived at Roy’s house in the afternoon to question him. However, the Shrirampur MLA was not present at the time. Officials are expected to record his statement once he returns. Roy, who once headed the hospital’s Patients’ Welfare Committee, has been under the agency’s scrutiny for several months. In September last year, CBI’s anti-corruption wing had raided his residence. Opposition leaders, including BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, have accused Roy of diverting hospital equipment to his private nursing home – a charge the lawmaker has strongly denied. Speaking earlier, Roy said his nursing home was established in 1984 and grew during the Left Front era. “Anyone can visit and verify for themselves. The allegations are baseless,” he maintained. The renewed CBI action comes against the backdrop of last year’s brutal rape and murder of a woman doctor inside RG Kar Medical College. Her body was discovered in a bloodied state in a seminar hall on the morning of August 9, 2024. A civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, was arrested that night. The incident triggered outrage across West Bengal and led to the removal of Sudipta Roy as chair of the hospital’s welfare panel, with senior TMC leader Shantanu Sen appointed in his place. The investigation into both the murder and the hospital’s alleged irregularities continues to place pressure on the ruling TMC, already grappling with a series of corruption scandals.
Victor Banerjee petitions for Bengal release of ‘The Bengal Files’, but Kolkata cinemas hesitant
Veteran actor Victor Banerjee has launched a petition campaign urging authorities to ensure the smooth release of The Bengal Files in West Bengal, amid growing uncertainty over whether cinemas in the state will screen the controversial film. The movie, directed by filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, is scheduled to release nationwide on September 5, 2025. Promoted as an attempt to bring to light a “dark and painful chapter” of Bengal and India’s history, the film has already run into turbulence in Kolkata. Earlier this month, its trailer launch event in the city was forcibly shut down, drawing criticism from free speech advocates. Speaking about his concerns, Banerjee said he feared deliberate attempts might be made to block the film’s release in his home state. “We have strong reasons to believe that there could be intentional obstacles to the scheduled release in Bengal,” he said in a statement. “Such actions violate artistic freedom and deny citizens their constitutional right to truth and free thought. We appeal to the Honourable President of India to ensure that this film can be shown peacefully, without intimidation or interference, and that the rights of both artists and audiences are fully protected.” Director Agnihotri, who previously made The Kashmir Files, echoed those concerns, claiming the disruption of the trailer launch was “illegal and forceful.” Yet, despite Banerjee’s appeal, many cinemas in Kolkata remain cautious. A prominent single-screen owner told Al Jazeera that he was unwilling to take risks. “We are not planning to screen this film. We don’t want to get dragged into trouble. We would rather run four shows of Bengali films,” the cinema manager said, requesting anonymity. Another hall operator, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said political tensions were weighing heavily on exhibitors’ decisions. “The pressure is increasing around this film. By the morning of September 5, we will know which cinemas are willing to take the chance. But we also need to be alert about whether any untoward incident takes place,” he said. The hesitation underscores the volatile climate surrounding politically charged films in Bengal, where cinema owners fear backlash from both sides of the political spectrum. For now, the petition led by Banerjee has amplified the debate, but whether The Bengal Files will reach audiences in Kolkata and across West Bengal on its release date remains uncertain.
Heavy rains flood Burdwan, zoo underwater as authorities scramble to protect animals
Torrential rains over the past 28 hours have battered Burdwan city in West Bengal, submerging several neighbourhoods, inundating homes, and forcing authorities to shut down the city’s zoo after floodwaters swept into animal enclosures. According to the state weather department, Burdwan recorded more than 200 millimetres of rainfall in just over a day – one of the heaviest spells in recent years. The downpour left many wards waterlogged, with streets under knee-deep water and drains overflowing. One of the worst-affected sites is the Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary and zoo, where water from Burdwan University’s nearby canal spilled into the grounds late Friday night. By Saturday morning, large portions of the zoo were underwater, prompting officials to close its gates to visitors. “Protecting the animals is our first priority,” said Sanchita Sharma, Divisional Forest Officer of Burdwan. “We are pumping out water with ten pumps and taking measures to ensure that no animals are harmed.” Zoo authorities said that while no animals have been injured, some species remain vulnerable if exposed to stagnant water for long periods. Deer and leopards are considered most at risk. Temporary arrangements have been made to relocate them to higher, drier ground within their enclosures. Bears, hyenas and other animals have also been confined to secure areas to prevent them from straying into waterlogged spaces. To shield birds, keepers have covered cages with tarpaulin sheets and installed fans to reduce humidity. Two ponds inside the zoo are also being drained to reduce the water level. Forest department staff have been working round the clock since Friday night to safeguard the animals, Sharma said. “Most species can tolerate these conditions for a short while, but we are moving quickly to restore normalcy.” The flooding has also disrupted civic life beyond the sanctuary. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to address a public rally at Burdwan Municipal High School ground. But that venue, too, has been left waterlogged, forcing local administration to begin urgent repair and drainage work. Residents say the flooding has been severe this time, worsened by overflowing canals and blocked drains. “In my neighbourhood, water has entered several houses for the first time in years,” said Anupam Roy, a shopkeeper near Ramnabagan. “People are worried about diseases if this water doesn’t clear soon.” Officials believe the situation may ease if rainfall intensity reduces over the next two days. Weather forecasts suggest lighter showers from Sunday, which could allow drainage operations to restore normal conditions. Until then, Burdwan remains on alert – a city battling both the fury of monsoon rains and the challenge of protecting its animals from rising waters.
