12 arrested after the attack on sadhus in West Bengal, BJP slams TMC over the incident

The Bharatiya Janata Party has slammed the ruling Trinamool Congress government over a 30-second long video clip that shows group of sadhus en route to Gangasagar allegedly being undressed and attacked by a mob in West Bengal’s Purulia. 12 people have been arrested after the video went viral on social media.

As per reports, the sadhus were en route to Gangasagar when they stopped and asked a group of girls for directions in Purulia. There reportedly was some miscommunication owing to the language barrier and the girls raised an alarm after they thought that the sadhus were following them. The sadhus were then allegedly attacked by a mob and their car vandalized.

Condemning the incident, Souman Beltharia, the TMC district President of Purulia said that the police promptly reached the spot and rescued the seers. "The incident should not have happened. There was rumor spread and angry mobs targeted the sadhus. Police reached the spot and rescued the sadhus. We have also seen the video and the police will find out why the incident happened,” said the TMC district President of Purulia.

“Three saints were going in a vehicle...Near Gourangdih, three girls were heading to a local Kali mandir for pooja when the car stopped near them and the sadhus asked them something. Due to some language issues, some misunderstandings happened and the girls thought that the sadhus were following them... The local public came and took the sadhus near Durga Mandir and vandalised their car. The sadhus were also manhandled... The police provided the sadhus with all possible assistance,”said Purulia superintendent of police Avijit Banerjee.

Following the incident, several BJP leaders took to social media platform X, condemning the attack on the sadhus.

BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya has launched a scathing attack on West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee, stating that the seers were allegedly subjected to a “Palghar kind lynching” and said that “it is a crime to be a Hindu in West Bengal.” “Absolutely shocking incident reported from Purulia in West Bengal. In a Palghar kind lynching, sadhus traveling to Gangasagar for Makar Sankranti, were stripped and beaten by criminals, affiliated with the ruling TMC. 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. #SaveBengal,” read the tweet posted by Amit Malviya.

Demanding accountability and questioning the “deafening silence” of Mamata Banerjee’s government, BJP West Bengal said, “Shame on Mamata Banerjee's deafening silence! Are these Hindu Sadhus not worthy of your acknowledgment? The atrocity demands accountability. #JusticeDenied”

“Shocking incident from Purulia; Sadhus en route to Gangasagar were stripped and beaten by criminals linked to TMC, echoing the Palghar tragedy. Under @MamataOfficial’s rule, a terrorist like Shahjahan gets state protection while sadhus face violence. Being Hindu is a crime in WB,” posted West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on his “X” account.

“Outraged by the Purulia incident!” said BJP MP Locket Chatterjee. “Outraged by the Purulia incident! Sadhus en route to Gangasagar brutally attacked—shocking evidence of deteriorating safety under TMC. Mamata's regime shields terrorists like Shahjahan Sheikh, while sadhus face brutal lynching. A grim reality for Hindus in Bengal. #SaveBengal” posted Chatterjee.

The police have said that upon receiving news about the incident, a team was promptly rushed to the spot. The officials rescued the sadhus and made necessary arrangements for the remainder of their journey to Gangasagar. The officials have said that they asked the seers if they wished to file a complaint, but they refused. The police have arrested a total of 12 men involved in the said attack and have denied a communal angle so far stating that they are probing into such claims.