TMC leader forced to wear saffron shawl, paraded, then handed over to police
A TMC leader from Hooghly, accused by the BJP and locals of extortion, intimidation and political violence during the party's rule, was allegedly dragged through the streets by residents.
In yet another instance of Trinamool Congress leaders facing public ire after losing power in West Bengal, a Trinamool Congress block panchayat committee member and once influential leader, against whom multiple cases are allegedly registered, was dragged by locals and paraded through the streets of Hooghly.
A video purportedly showing residents dragging Tapas Chakraborty, with a saffron shawl around him, before handing him over to the police has gone viral on social media, triggering a fresh political slugfest between the ruling BJP and the TMC.
According to local sources, Chakraborty was once considered an influential figure in the Chinsurah-Mogra block. He had served as a member of the Chinsurah-Mogra Block Panchayat Samiti and was also a former president of the block unit of the Mamata Banerjee-led party.
The BJP alleged that Chakraborty was involved in multiple cases of extortion, intimidation and political violence during the TMC's rule in the area. BJP leaders claimed that residents had long been afraid to speak out against him due to his political influence and alleged links with senior party leaders.
The saffron party further alleged that Chakraborty and his associates were involved in assaulting BJP workers who had gone to the Sub-Divisional Officer's office during the SIR process to submit Form-7 applications. BJP leaders claimed that the forms carried by their workers were allegedly snatched and torn during the incident.
The BJP also described Chakraborty as a close aide of former MLA Asit Mazumdar and accused him of operating as a "strongman" in the region during the TMC regime.
Local residents, meanwhile, alleged that several complaints relating to intimidation, extortion and coercion had been made against Chakraborty over the years.
Police have not yet officially clarified the exact reason behind Chakraborty being taken to the police station by locals.
After the BJP unseated the Trinamool Congress in the area during the Assembly elections, West Bengal witnessed multiple instances of TMC leaders and people associated with the party facing public backlash. In several such incidents, individuals were allegedly pelted with stones and slippers and paraded through the streets, similar to the Hooghly incident.