'Being Hindu is a crime in WB': BJP slams Mamata govt. after assault on sadhus

In a shocking incident in West Bengal's Purulia district on January 12, a group of sadhus faced a brutal assault, allegedly being stripped by a mob. The disturbing episode, captured on video and circulated on social media platforms, shows the sadhus being thrashed.

According to Purulia Superintendent of Police Avijit Banerjee, the incident began when three sadhus in a vehicle encountered three girls near Gourangdih. Misunderstandings arose due to a language barrier, with the girls assuming the sadhus were following them. The situation escalated when locals intervened, taking the sadhus to Durga Mandir, where their car was vandalized, and they were physically assaulted. The police intervened, providing assistance to the sadhus, and an investigation is ongoing following a complaint by one of the sadhus, leading to the arrest of 12 individuals.

In response to the incident, Amit Malviya, BJP leader and the party's IT Cell head, condemned the attack on the sadhus. Malviya accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of being complicit, drawing parallels with the Palghar lynching incident. 

“In Mamata Banerjee’s regime, a terrorist like Shahjahan Sheikh gets state protection and sadhus are being lynched. It is a crime to be a Hindu in West Bengal,” Malviya added.

While TMC state spokesperson Debangshu Bhattacharya replied on social media stating, “The Government of West Bengal has long successfully organized the Gangasagar Mela without there being any mishaps,”.

“Now, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, BJP has imported troublemakers from neighboring states to harass pilgrims and sadhus,” he added.