Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari’s lawyer lodged a complaint with Cooch Behar police against 41 suspects, including North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha and Cooch Behar District TMC president Abhijit De Bhowmik, holding them responsible for the attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party MLA’s convoy on Tuesday. The police arrested seven persons in connection with the attack and all the accused are known to be the supporters of the ruling TMC.
The complaint, submitted via email late Tuesday night to the Cooch Behar district Superintendent of Police as well as Kotwali police station, cites serious charges including attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and destruction of public property.
Reacting sharply, BJP’s Cooch Behar district President Abhijit Barman said, “The way the Leader of the Opposition was attacked is unacceptable in a democracy. We strongly condemn the incident. Suvendu’s lawyer has followed due legal procedure. Now the law must act.”
BJP leaders claim the convoy was targeted with bricks, bamboo sticks and other weapons, while Trinamool Congress' supporters allegedly vandalised several vehicles. According to sources, the situation became so volatile that the police had to escort Suvendu’s convoy to safety.
Also read: Suvendu Adhikari's convoy attacked in Cooch Behar, BJP blames TMC
Minister Guha, one of the main accused, dismissed the allegations with sarcasm and defiance. “Yesterday, Suvendu Adhikari claimed I carried out the attack using the Rohingyas. But today, there’s no mention of it in his complaint. Has he struck a deal with the Rohingyas?” the minister quipped. He further added.
Escalating the matter further, BJP MLA Agnimitra Pal pointed fingers at the top leadership of the TMC, alleging the attack was pre-planned.
“The police were aware of Suvendu’s route but failed to provide adequate security. TMC workers carried out the assault right in front of the police. This raises serious questions about the role of the state administration,” she said.
She went on to claim that Guha was the mastermind and that the attack was discussed in advance at a meeting held at Camac Street in Kolkata under the leadership of Abhishek Banerjee, the TMC’s national General Secretary.
This incident comes amid a series of alleged attacks on BJP MLAs in Dinhata, Mathabhanga and Shitalkuchi, all in North Bengal—a region increasingly becoming a flashpoint in the state’s volatile political landscape.
Adhikari had reportedly been en route to meet the Superintendent of Police, Cooch Behar, when his convoy came under attack. BJP sources claim the attack was a deliberate attempt to intimidate the opposition and suppress dissent.
With a formal complaint now in place and names of top political figures included, pressure is mounting on law enforcement and the state administration to initiate a credible and impartial investigation. Meanwhile, the BJP has sought intervention from the Union Home Ministry, demanding that central agencies look into what it calls a “systematic assault on democratic rights” in West Bengal.
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