The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a large protest in Kolkata on Tuesday, a day after its MP Khagen Murmu and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh were injured during an attack in Jalpaiguri district.
BJP workers rally in Kolkata, New Delhi
Meanwhile, the BJP leaders in Delhi also staged a march towards Banga Bhawan in protest against the TMC government in West Bengal. Hundreds of party workers took out a march towards Banga Bhawan, shouting slogans against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. They accused the ruling party of failing to maintain law and order in the state.
MP Khagen Murmu still in the ICU
Murmu, the MP from Malda North, was struck on the head by stones when a mob attacked the BJP leaders’ convoy in Nagrakata, where they were visiting flood-affected areas.
Doctors at a private hospital treating Murmu said he had sustained serious facial injuries, including a fractured bone below his left eye. “He is in the ICU but stable. We are monitoring his condition closely,” a senior hospital official told PTI.
BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh, who was also injured in the attack, is undergoing treatment at the same facility. Hospital authorities confirmed that his condition is stable.
The officials added that Murmu may need surgery to repair the fracture once the swelling subsides. Murmu’s family has urged the authorities to take swift action against those responsible, while the BJP has called for a statewide protest later this week.
Political row over mob attack
The attack has sparked a fierce political war of words. Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the TMC for failing to ensure the safety of opposition leaders, saying he wished the state government focused more on helping flood victims instead of “indulging in violence during such a critical time”.
Police said formal complaints had been filed against eight people allegedly involved in the assault, though no arrests had been made till Tuesday evening.
Tension amid flood relief operations
The incident comes at a time when northern Bengal is battling heavy flooding, with several villages in Jalpaiguri district submerged. Political clashes in relief camps have heightened tensions, as both the BJP and TMC blame each other for the unrest.