Tensions flared in Siliguri on Sunday as BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh led a protest against the alleged assault of two Hindu devotees during Charak Puja rituals at the Mahananda River. Ghosh directly blamed a member of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the incident and criticized the state government for failing to take action.
Speaking to ANI, Ghosh alleged, “The main culprit is a TMC member, and that’s why no arrest has been made yet. If he is not arrested within two days, I will urge the entire Charak Puja Committee to protest.”
The incident reportedly occurred when two young men from Ward 4 were performing rituals at the river. Ghosh claimed that five individuals threw a bottle at them, and upon protest, the devotees were assaulted. He further accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of fostering an environment where “it feels like a sin to be born Hindu in West Bengal.”
“Despite the Chief Minister herself being a Hindu, she remains silent while Hindus are attacked in the state,” Ghosh added, pointing to past incidents of violence targeting Hindu families.
Charak Puja, a traditional ritual held on Chaitra Sankranti, marks the end of the Bengali calendar year and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees engage in symbolic acts of penance, including swinging from poles with hooks pierced through their backs.
The protest comes amid broader unrest in West Bengal, where violence recently broke out in Murshidabad and Jangipur over the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. Demonstrators clashed with police, leading to the torching of vehicles and damage to public offices. At least three people were reported dead in Murshidabad following Friday night’s violence.
In response to the escalating law and order situation, the Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of five BSF companies to assist state police operations, according to IG South Bengal Frontier Karni Singh Shekhawat.
