Saffron party's MP, MLA injured in mob attack in West Bengal

West Bengal’s BJP MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Sankar Ghosh were injured in an attack by a mob during their visit to the flood and landslide-hit Dooars region in the northern part of the state, triggering a fresh political storm.

Following the confrontation that took place in Nagrakata area of Jalpaiguri district, the BJP accused the ruling TMC of orchestrating the attack to silence dissent in the region calling the incident another example of “TMC’s jungle raj”.

Meanwhile, the ruling party blamed the saffron camp for “provoking” people with a “photo-op visit” amid widespread suffering. Murmu and Ghosh were part of a team of BJP leaders who had gone to the disaster-hit Dooars region to assess the situation and distribute relief.

TV visuals showed that before they could interact with flood-affected residents, a mob surrounded them, raising slogans of “Didi, Didi,” and hurled stones at their convoy near Bamandanga, about 10 km from Nagrakata town.

Murmu was seen bleeding from the head. In a Facebook Live video, Ghosh appeared shaken, describing the attack as “horrifying”.

Sitting beside the blood-stained MP, the MLA said, “We had gone to check the people's condition. Suddenly, a group of locals surrounded us and started abusing us, then attacked from behind. Khagen-da was hit on the head, and I barely escaped by ducking inside the seat. We are now on our way to Siliguri for treatment.”

PM Modi also targeted the TMC for the attack and said he wished the state government and the TMC were more focused on helping people rather than indulging in violence.