Bengal’s Opposition Leader Welcomes Court Order in BJP Worker’s Murder Case Linked to Post-Poll Violence
The West Bengal’s Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Friday welcomed a court order sending three former police personnel to judicial custody in connection with the 2021 murder of BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar during alleged post-poll violence in the state. The case, now being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), centers on the killing of Sarkar in Kolkata’s Beleghata area shortly after the state assembly elections. Adhikari said Sarkar was “brutally beaten and strangled to death,” and claimed that even his pet animals were not spared during the attack. “After the 2021 Assembly elections, BJP workers were subjected to brutal post-poll violence across West Bengal,” Adhikari said in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “Abhijit Sarkar’s horrific murder is a burning example. Many BJP workers lost their lives, women were assaulted, and thousands were forced to flee their homes—some even took refuge in camps in other states.” A city court on Friday remanded Subhajit Sen, then officer-in-charge of Narkeldanga police station (later promoted to ACP before retirement), sub-inspector Ratna Sarkar, and home guard Dipankar Debnath to judicial custody in connection with the case. During the hearing, the judge remarked, “What happens when protectors become predators?” Adhikari said the CBI probe was moving in the right direction and warned that “no perpetrator of post-poll violence will be spared.” He reiterated the BJP’s commitment to justice for Sarkar and all victims of the violence. “We will continue our fight until every criminal responsible for the post-poll atrocities is brought to justice,” Adhikari added, using the hashtag “#KillerMamata” in a pointed attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Court sends three policemen, TMC worker to jail over BJP worker’s murder in post-poll violence
A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Friday ordered the judicial custody of four individuals, including three former police personnel and a Trinamul Congress (TMC) worker, in connection with the 2021 murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activist Abhijit Sarkar in Kolkata’s Kankurgachi area. The court directed that the four accused — former officer-in-charge of Narkeldanga Police Station Subhajit Sen, then sub-inspector Ratna Sarkar, home guard Dipankar Debnath, and TMC worker Sujata De — be remanded in judicial custody until 31 July. One of the officers has since retired. The CBI is probing the case, which stems from violence that erupted in West Bengal following the announcement of the state assembly election results in May 2021. Sarkar, a prominent member of the BJP-affiliated labour wing, was killed on the day of the election results. The latest arrests come days after the CBI filed a charge sheet naming 18 individuals in connection with the case. The three police personnel were not initially named in the charge sheet but appeared in court on Thursday and surrendered. Sarkar’s brother, Biswajit Sarkar, welcomed the court’s move but criticized the earlier inaction by local police. “Despite being named in complaints, the officer-in-charge was never taken into custody or investigated by the Kolkata Police, which instead promoted him,” he told reporters outside the court. Reacting to the development, West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said, “This should serve as a lesson for those police officers who act as agents of the ruling TMC instead of upholding the Constitution.” Violence following the 2021 assembly polls led to several political and criminal investigations, with the BJP accusing the TMC of targeting its workers across the state — a charge the TMC has consistently denied. The case remains under investigation.
Controversy erupts over BDO’s gala birthday celebration inside office premises
A fresh controversy has erupted in West Bengal after a video surfaced showing a senior government officer celebrating her birthday with pomp inside her official chamber during work hours. The incident took place on July 14 at the office of the Block Development Officer (BDO) in Haringhata, Nadia district, where BDO Mahasweta Biswas was seen celebrating her birthday for nearly an hour with decorations, music, cake-cutting, and party accessories — all during regular office hours. The office, adorned with balloons and darkened for effect, resembled a banquet hall more than a government facility. As the clock struck noon, Biswas entered the room to the sound of the “Happy Birthday” song, greeted by staff wearing party hats and a table laid with a large birthday cake. The celebration temporarily brought official work to a halt, while citizens waited outside the office to seek redressal for various grievances. “Rules took a backseat that day,” said a local resident standing outside the office during the event. The incident comes just days after a similar video went viral from East Burdwan, where Rajneesh Kumar Yadav, the BDO of Burdwan–I block, celebrated a pre-wedding ritual in his office on July 4, drawing criticism on social media. Kalyani Sub-Divisional Officer Dr. Abhijit Samanta told reporters, “This should not happen in a government office. Sometimes these things are done by staff without informing the officer. But if it disrupts public service and creates inconvenience to citizens, it is certainly inappropriate.” However, Biswas defended the celebration, saying, “There’s nothing unusual about it. I don’t see anything wrong. It was a simple gesture by my staff, and perhaps the decorations went a bit overboard because of the affection they have for me.” The incidents have sparked debate over the appropriateness of holding personal celebrations in government offices, raising questions about official decorum and accountability in public service.
Human Skeleton Found in Garbage Sparks Investigation in West Bengal Town
Sanitation workers in a town in West Bengal’s Hooghly district discovered a human skeleton wrapped in plastic while clearing a garbage bin on Thursday morning, prompting a police investigation. The remains — including a skull and other bones — were found in the Daspara area of Ward 27 under the jurisdiction of Chinsurah Municipality. According to local authorities, municipal workers noticed a black plastic bag stuck to a shovel as they were lifting waste. When they pulled at the bag, the knot at the top came loose, revealing human remains. Police from Chinsurah station arrived at the scene shortly afterward and recovered the skeleton. Officials said there are no surveillance cameras in the area and it remains unclear when or how the bones were dumped. “We have questioned residents, but no recent deaths have been reported in the area,” a senior officer said. “We are looking into the possibility that the skeleton was brought in from outside the locality.” Investigators are also exploring whether the bones might have been used for academic or medical purposes. “As the skeleton appears to be old, we are checking if it was part of an anatomical collection used for study,” the officer added. A forensic examination has been ordered to determine the origin and age of the remains.
BJP alleges political motive behind move by TMC to hold protest over harassment of Bengalis
KOLKATA, 16 JULY: Leader of Opposition in Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari today said that in the name of Bengali sentiment, the ruling Trunmul Congress is trying to gain electoral profit. He accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is taking the help from other than Bengali IAS and IPS officers to run the state administration and constantly depriving the Bengal officials to get their proper administrative positions. West Bengal’s ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC) will hold a protest rally in Kolkata on Wednesday over alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking people in several Indian states, a move the party claims is aimed at protecting Bengali identity. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead the rally, with her nephew and party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also expected to participate after a long public absence. The TMC alleges that Bengali-speaking individuals have repeatedly faced discrimination in other Indian states, where they were labelled as “Bangladeshi” and subjected to humiliation. The party said it had raised the issue with the Central government and respective state authorities but received no response, prompting the decision to launch a street protest. However, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the TMC of using the “Bengali identity” issue as a political ploy ahead of upcoming elections. “TMC has suddenly rediscovered Bengali pride only because elections are nearing,” Adhikari wrote in a detailed post on X, formerly Twitter. “This is nothing but a veiled attempt to shield illegal immigrants — including Rohingyas and Bangladeshis — under the guise of protecting Bengalis.” Adhikari further alleged that the state government itself has sidelined senior Bengali officials from top administrative positions. “Why were senior Bengali bureaucrats like Atri Bhattacharya and Subrata Gupta ignored for the Chief Secretary post, and Manoj Panth, a junior, appointed instead? Why was IPS officer Sanjay Mukherjee replaced by Rajeev Kumar, an outsider, as DGP?” he asked. He also questioned the government’s silence on the plight of thousands of qualified Bengali youths who lost teaching jobs due to corruption scandals, saying Mamata Banerjee’s concern for Bengali identity seems selective. “When thousands of genuine Bengali candidates are protesting on the streets after being denied teaching jobs due to scams, the Chief Minister turns a blind eye. But she rushes to defend the rights of people who may be illegal immigrants,” Adhikari wrote. The protest comes amid growing political tension in West Bengal, with the TMC and BJP engaged in a fierce battle over issues of identity, governance, and corruption. The BJP has launched a nationwide drive to identify and deport undocumented immigrants, which TMC leaders claim is targeting Bengali-speaking populations in several states. No immediate response was available from the Union Home Ministry on TMC’s allegations or Adhikari’s claims.
Sex worker from Bangladesh found murdered at Matia: Police launch investigation
KOLKATA, 16 JULY: The brutal murder of a Bangladeshi sex worker has triggered panic in the Matia police station area of North 24 Parganas district, officials said today. According to police sources, the victim, believed to be around 25 years old, had been brought into India illegally by traffickers and was sold into a red-light district near Matia, where she had been working for the past few years. She lived alone in a rented room adjacent to the area. The incident occurred on Monday evening when local residents, noticing that the woman had not responded to repeated calls, peered through her window and found her lying motionless on the bed, with visible blood stains on her face. They alerted police, who recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem to the Basirhat District Hospital morgue. “She appears to have been murdered inside her rented room. We are investigating whether a client or someone else was behind the killing,” said a police officer from Matia station. No arrests have been made so far, and the identity of the assailant remains unknown. The victim’s body has not yet been claimed, and police say they have not been able to trace her family in Bangladesh. Authorities suspect the woman was trafficked across the border by a broker, but said the details of her entry and subsequent placement in the red-light area are still under investigation. The incident has sparked outrage among local residents, with many demanding increased safety measures and stricter crackdowns on cross-border trafficking networks.
Fake Gold Scam Uncovered in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur, Kolkata Police Arrest Key Accused
KOLKATA, July 15: Kolkata Police have arrested a key member of a nationwide fake gold racket operating out of Bharatpur in Rajasthan, exposing a wide network of fraudsters who have been producing counterfeit gold jewellery and using it to secure loans across India. According to police officials, the accused, identified as Dharam Singh, was arrested in Bharatpur during a covert operation led by officers from the city’s Parnasree police station. The operation followed the death of a suspected fraudster who was lynched in Kolkata’s Parnasree area after allegedly trying to use fake gold to secure a loan. Another accused was seriously injured in the same incident, prompting a deeper investigation. Dharam Singh, said to be a key figure in the syndicate, was apprehended by officers posing as buyers of fake gold. Several counterfeit ornaments were recovered from him at the time of arrest. The investigation revealed that multiple small-scale factories in Bharatpur are manufacturing fake gold jewellery that closely resembles real gold, both in appearance and weight, making detection difficult without thorough testing. The counterfeit items are often pawned to obtain large sums in loans rather than sold outright. Parnasree police traced the operation to Bharatpur after interrogating Deepak Singh, who was arrested for attempting to secure a ₹1.1 million ($13,000) loan using fake gold. He disclosed information that led the officers to the inter-state racket’s hub. However, Kolkata Police faced resistance while conducting raids in Bharatpur, which lies near the borders of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Local law enforcement allegedly discouraged night-time operations, citing safety concerns due to the area’s proximity to the Chambal ravines, a region historically known for criminal hideouts. Upon learning of the impending crackdown, several gang members reportedly fled towards Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Despite this, Dharam Singh was successfully apprehended and brought to Kolkata for interrogation. Police say further raids may be conducted in Bharatpur to capture additional suspects identified during questioning. Authorities believe the racket has defrauded financial institutions and gold dealers across multiple states and are expanding the investigation in coordination with other state police forces.
Bengal Opposition Leader Calls Parallel Rally on 21 July TMC Martyrs’ Day, Mamata Dismisses It as “Unimportant”
KOLKATA, India, July 15: Political tensions are escalating in West Bengal as opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced a counter-rally on July 21, the day the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) holds its annual Martyrs’ Day gathering in central Kolkata. Adhikari has also launched a state-wide campaign titled Kanya Suraksha (Girl Child Protection) in response to a recent gang rape allegation involving a law college student in Kolkata’s Kasba area, intensifying political debate over women’s safety in the state. The BJP has announced marches across various districts and a protest march to Uttarkanya, the state government’s administrative outpost in North Bengal, on the same day as the TMC rally. However, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has dismissed the BJP’s counter-programme, calling it insignificant. “It’s not an important issue. There’s no need to pay attention to them,” she told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Monday. Martyrs’ Day, observed annually on July 21, commemorates the killing of 13 TMC supporters during a protest in 1993. The event remains one of the party’s most significant political shows of strength. Banerjee, addressing preparations for the event, instructed ministers and officials to ensure the safe and smooth transport of party workers from across the state to Kolkata. “Our only focus is to honour the martyrs and ensure a peaceful and successful event,” Banerjee said. She directed police and administrative officials to ensure security, accommodation, and transportation logistics are carefully managed for party workers traveling to the capital. During the cabinet meeting, Banerjee also expressed concern over reports of Bengalis facing harassment in other Indian states for speaking their mother tongue. “It’s unacceptable that someone is attacked just for speaking Bengali,” she said. The Chief Minister asked her ministers to organise protests at the local level and raise awareness on linguistic and cultural respect. “Nearly 15 million people from other states live peacefully in West Bengal, and we have always welcomed them with dignity,” Banerjee said. “But over 2.2 million Bengalis working in other parts of India are facing discrimination. This cannot continue.” Officials believe the government may be preparing a larger campaign to protest these incidents, not just through administrative channels but also via cultural and social platforms aimed at protecting Bengali language and identity.
Lightning Strikes Digha Temple Flag; Opposition Leader Blames ‘Irregular Rituals, Political Interference’
DIGHA, 14 July – A lightning strike during heavy rains on Sunday morning set ablaze the ceremonial flag atop the Jagannath Cultural Centre temple in the coastal town of Digha, West Bengal, triggering a political and religious row. Eastern Midnapore district, including Digha, has been experiencing intense rain and thunderstorms since early morning. The lightning struck amid the downpour, damaging the sacred flagpole of the seaside temple. West Bengal’s Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, reacted sharply to the incident, alleging religious impropriety and political misuse of faith. In a post on social media, Adhikari claimed that “divine displeasure” may have caused the lightning strike, citing what he described as repeated violations of religious norms at the temple. He accused the state government of politicizing religion, allowing non-Hindus unrestricted access to the temple premises, conducting rituals improperly, and desecrating religious items such as walking over the Rath Yatra ropes with shoes. “For political appeasement, they are using Mahaprabhu Jagannath, and that is unacceptable. But as the saying goes, ‘Chakshu Aankhi Sab Dekhuchi’ (The Lord sees everything),” Adhikari wrote. His remarks sparked fresh debate, especially after Rajesh Dwaitapati, a servitor from the Jagannath Temple in Puri, echoed some of the concerns. “Ritual disruptions could indeed lead to such incidents,” Dwaitapati said. “If the temple protocols were not followed properly, that may have contributed. We are looking into all aspects.” While there has been no official response yet from the West Bengal government, the incident has reignited the ongoing discourse around the intersection of faith and politics in the state, particularly in religious festivals and temple administration. The damaged flagpole is expected to be restored soon, temple authorities said, adding that no injuries were reported in the incident. An inquiry into the lightning strike and associated claims is likely, amid calls from religious groups for stricter adherence to temple customs.
India’s BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari Sparks Row with Call for Hindus to “Prepare Weapons”
KOLKATA, July 14: Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, triggered a political firestorm on Monday after urging Hindus to “prepare weapons” during a protest rally in Khejuri, in the state’s East Midnapore district. The comments have drawn sharp criticism and are expected to intensify political tensions in the state ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. Leading a BJP-organized protest march from Janaka to Vidyapith, Adhikari accused the state police of protecting members of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), particularly from a “special community,” while allegedly framing Hindus in false cases. Referring to recent deaths of two BJP workers in Khejuri—Sujit Das and Sudhirchandra Paik—Adhikari alleged they were “killed in a planned manner” and promised legal support to their families. Addressing the crowd, Adhikari said: “Hindus must prepare bamboo sticks soaked in oil… More such sticks must be made. Unite the Hindus.” He accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party’s “nephew gang” of orchestrating a narrative to shield “their peace-loving boys” while allegedly suppressing Hindus. The remarks came during a bandh (shutdown) called by the BJP in protest over the deaths. Adhikari also handed over financial aid to the bereaved families and assured them of full legal assistance. Ratcheting up political rhetoric, the BJP leader challenged the TMC’s dominance in East Midnapore, stating, “The more you jail the people of Nandigram and Khejuri, the more united they will become. In 2021, East Midnapore gave 44% votes to Narendra Modi. In 2026, we will give him all 16 assembly seats.” In a controversial statement, Adhikari further suggested that “Hindus could be killed by TMC’s minority supporters in the days to come,” hinting at potential communal polarization. The remarks have sparked backlash from political opponents and civil society groups, who accused Adhikari of promoting communal unrest. The TMC has yet to issue an official response, but sources within the party condemned the speech as “provocative and dangerous.” West Bengal has witnessed frequent political clashes between BJP and TMC supporters, particularly in rural areas like East Midnapore, where both parties are competing for influence ahead of crucial electoral contests.
