Archive · 29 Oct 2025
Ex-TMC Councillor Accused of Assaulting Trader and Wife in Raiganj
Imagine a shop owner in Raiganj who has been running his store for a very long time.
A local politician who used to be a councilor came to his shop with some friends.
The shop owner says they beat him up, hurt his wife when she tried to help, and trashed his store.
They allegedly threatened to kill them if they didn't leave.
The shop owner thinks this happened because he was interested in buying the land his shop is on, but the politician also claims he bought it.
The politician, however, says the shop owner is wrongly using space on the road and was very rude to him when asked to move.
The police are now investigating both sides of the story.
A former Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor in Raiganj, Abhijit Saha, is accused of assaulting an electronics trader, Samir Debnath, and his wife, Purnima.
The trader alleges that Saha and his associates vandalized his shop and threatened him and his wife with death if they did not vacate the premises.
Debnath believes the motive is related to a dispute over the land his shop occupies, as he was interested in purchasing it, but Saha also claimed ownership.
The accused, Saha, denies the allegations, stating that the trader had encroached on road space and was verbally abusive when confronted.
Both the trader and the accused have filed complaints with the Raiganj police, who have begun an investigation.
- Who
- Former TMC councillor Abhijit Saha and his associates accused of assaulting trader Samir Debnath and his wife Purnima.
- What
- Trader Samir Debnath and his wife Purnima allege they were assaulted, their shop vandalized, and threatened by a former TMC councillor and his aides. The councillor claims the trader encroached on a road and was abusive.
- When
- Monday night
- Where
- Raiganj, at the trader's electronics shop.
- Why
- The trader alleges the former councillor wants to evict him from a prime location where he has run his shop for 25 years, possibly due to a land dispute. The accused claims the trader encroached on public space and was abusive.
Trader's Allegations
Former Councillor's Defense
The Incident
Trader's Allegations
Former TMC councillor Abhijit Saha and his associates allegedly barged into Samir Debnath's shop, assaulted him and his wife, ransacked the shop, and threatened them with death.
Former Councillor's Defense
Former TMC councillor Abhijit Saha claims the trader Samir Debnath was encroaching on road space, narrowed the road, and was aggressively abusive when requested to clear the space.
Motive for Conflict
Trader's Allegations
The trader believes the assault is due to a dispute over the land his shop occupies, as he was interested in buying it, and Saha claimed ownership without proof.
Former Councillor's Defense
The former councillor alleges that the trader is a BJP supporter trying to defame him and that the accusations are false.
- Location
- Raiganj
- Date of Incident
- Monday night
- Alleged Perpetrator
- Abhijit Saha, former TMC councillor
- Alleged Victim
- Samir Debnath, electronics trader, and his wife Purnima
- Nature of Allegations
- Assault, molestation, vandalism, threats