Manipur-Like Ordeal in West Bengal: Woman Beaten, Paraded Naked Allegedly By 40 TMC 'Goons'

Amidst the nationwide outrage over a viral video from Manipur, where two women from the Kuki tribe were subjected to a horrific incident of being paraded naked and allegedly gang-raped, a similar distressing incident has surfaced from neighboring state West Bengal. In this incident, a female BJP gram sabha candidate from a political party claimed that she was also stripped naked and paraded by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers on July 8 during the Panchayat polls.

According to her complaint, the woman stated that around 40 Trinamool miscreants in the Panchla area of Howrah district attacked her while the Panchayat polls in West Bengal were taking place. She revealed that she was beaten with a stick, thrown out of the polling station, and further subjected to unimaginable assault.

The FIR mentioned names of several individuals, including Trinamool candidate Himanta Roy, Noor Alam, Alfi SK, Ranbir Panja Sanju, and Sukmal Panja, all allegedly involved in the incident. The victim claimed that while she was being assaulted, Himanta Roy incited others to tear her saree and inner dress, leading to her being undressed and molested in front of others.

The woman further alleged that TMC workers tore off her clothes, stripped her naked, and paraded her throughout the entire village. She stated that she was molested and inappropriately touched during this horrifying ordeal.

The Bengal BJP's co-incharge, Amit Malviya, strongly criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in response to the incident, calling for her to take moral responsibility and step down.

Since Mamata Banerjee’s dead conscience has finally surfaced and she is, for a change, feeling ashamed, here is the complaint of Panchla victim, who was stripped naked inside a polling booth (on 8th Jul 2023), by TMC candidate and his henchmen… copy of the FIR, which names the… https://t.co/i0ZheSV42l pic.twitter.com/ivc8IgB3i9

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 21, 2023

BJP MP Locket Chatterjee also broke down during a press conference while recounting another alleged incident of sexual assault by TMC workers against a BJP candidate.

#WATCH | BJP MP Locket Chatterjee breaks down as she recounts an alleged incident of sexual assault by TMC workers of a BJP candidate during Panchayat polls on 8th July in Howrah district of West Bengal pic.twitter.com/45VdDGqDXi

— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2023

The BJP has condemned both the Manipur and West Bengal incidents, stating that the Panchla incident is equally distressing and deserves attention, despite not having video evidence due to restrictions imposed by Mamata Banerjee's police.

#WATCH | West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar says, "We condemn the Manipur incident, it is a sad incident but a woman BJP worker was paraded naked in South Panchla, is it less sad than the Manipur incident? The difference is that there is no video of this incident because… pic.twitter.com/Dgeots0UrM

— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2023

These incidents have sparked widespread condemnation and calls for action against the perpetrators and those responsible for ensuring the safety and security of citizens during electoral processes.