'Crime to be Hindu in Bengal': BJP Attacks TMC After 3 Sadhus Assaulted, Calls it ‘Palghar-Like Lynching’

A political row has erupted after a group of sadhus (seers) were allegedly stripped and assaulted by a mob in West Bengal’s Purulia district. A video of the incident surfaced on Friday, in which three sadhus from Uttar Pradesh, who were en route to the Gangasagar Mela in West Bengal, were purportedly seen being disrobed and beaten by a mob.

Twelve people have been reportedly arrested in connection with the case so far.

Reacting strongly to the attack, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and equated the incident with the 2020 Palghar mob lynching.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya shared the video on his official X handle and alleged that goons linked to the ruling TMC were behind the assault on Sadhus.

“Absolutely shocking incident reported from Purulia in West Bengal… Sadhus travelling to Gangasagar for Makar Sankranti were stripped and beaten by criminals affiliated with the ruling TMC.” Malviya wrote on X.

Claiming that it was a crime to be a Hindu in West Bengal, he said, “In Mamata Banerjee’s regime, a terrorist like Shahjahan Sheikh gets state protection and sadhus are being lynched.”

BJP’s West Bengal unit president Sukanta Majumdar also hit out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led government over the assault.

“Shocking incident from Purulia; Sadhus en route to Gangasagar were stripped and beaten by criminals linked to TMC, echoing the Palghar tragedy. Under Mamata Banerjee’s rule, a terrorist like Shahjahan gets state protection while sadhus face violence. Being Hindu is a crime in WB.

The ED sleuths came under attack from unidentified people in the North 24 Parganas district of Bengal earlier this month, when they went there to conduct raids on the properties of Shahjahan Sheikh– a TMC strongman and a local panchayat leader.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also equated the incident with the mob attack on ED and claimed that the structure of law and order has collapsed in West Bengal.

“Palghar part 2 in Purulia? Sadhus en route to Gangasagar were stripped and beaten by TMC goons. In West Bengal under TMC, Shahjahan gets protection while sadhus face violence. Being Hindu is a crime? Political violence has been institutionalised by TMC. From central agencies to sadhus – no one is safe! Law & order has collapsed, Poonawalla wrote in a post on X.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad has also condemned the attack and demanded CM Mamata Banerjee’s apology over the incident.

“The deadly attack by TMC goons is not acceptable…It is unfortunate that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has developed an anti-Hindu environment in the state…We strongly condemn this…CM Mamata Banerjee should apologise to the nation,” said VHP leader Surendra Jain.

The TMC did not immediately respond to the allegations.

Why Sadhus Were Attacked?

Three sadhus– a man and his two sons–who were reportedly from UP, hired a vehicle on Thursday to reach Gangasagar for the Makar Sankranti festival.

The sadhus had lost their way and had stopped to confirm the route with two girls. The girls got scared and ran away, prompting locals to assume that the sadhus must have harassed the girls, according to a report by India Today.

As the situation escalated, local police intervened and rescued the sadhus.

Quoting Abhijit Banerjee, Purulia Police Superintendent, the India Today report said that a case was registered and raids are being conducted to apprehend those involved in the assault.

So far, 12 people have been arrested in connection with the assault, the police said.

Madhur Goswami, one of the sadhus who was assaulted said, “While we were on our way to Gangasagar, suddenly our car was stopped by a large mob which assaulted us.”

2020 Palghar Lynching

Two Hindu sadhus and their driver were lynched by a mob at Gadchinchale village in Maharashtra’s Palghar district on April 16, 2020. The mob attacked sadhus’ car believing a WhatsApp rumour about thieves operating in the area during the countrywide coronavirus lockdown. More than 100 villagers were arrested in connection with the lynching.