Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Arrow Injury Exposes BJP Feud Over Cooch Behar Panchayat Post
A fight broke out among members of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Cooch Behar.
The disagreement was about who should become the head of a local village council.
Juthika Barman was supposed to become the pradhan according to the party’s decision.
Another BJP leader, Taranikanta Barman, and his supporters opposed her election.
The argument became violent, and people shot arrows during the clash.
One arrow hit BJP member Shanti Talukdar in the waist.
Police arrived, controlled the situation, and stationed officers nearby.
BJP leaders disagree about who caused the violence and want the police to investigate.
BJP panchayat member Shanti Talukdar was injured by an arrow during a clash in Nazirahat-II.
The violence followed a dispute over the election of BJP’s Juthika Barman as panchayat pradhan.
The clash involved Juthika’s supporters and those backing local BJP leader Taranikanta Barman.
Shanti was admitted to Dinhata subdivisional hospital, while police deployed personnel to the area.
BJP leaders exchanged accusations, with one side alleging Trinamool-linked workers were involved and the other seeking an impartial investigation.
- Who
- BJP panchayat members and supporters, including Juthika Barman, Shanti Talukdar, and Taranikanta Barman, were involved in the dispute.
- What
- A factional clash over the election of a panchayat pradhan left Shanti Talukdar injured by an arrow.
- When
- Thursday.
- Where
- Nazirahat-II panchayat in the Salmara area of Dinhata-II block, Cooch Behar, under Sahebganj police station.
- Why
- The clash followed disagreement over Juthika Barman’s proposed election as panchayat pradhan and wider allegations of internal party rivalry.
Allegations About the Attack
Calls for Impartial Investigation
Who triggered the violence
Allegations About the Attack
Juthika Barman’s supporters said the opposing side attacked them with arrows, and Shanti’s sister alleged that side caused her injury.
Calls for Impartial Investigation
Taranikanta Barman said police should investigate the entire incident and determine impartially who was involved.
Role of outside political links
Allegations About the Attack
BJP leader Krishna Barman alleged that some BJP workers linked to the Trinamool were ignoring organisational rules and had provoked or supported the attack.
Calls for Impartial Investigation
Taranikanta Barman did not accept that account and instead blamed people involved in alleged ‘cut money’ politics for creating the situation.
- Injured person
- Shanti Talukdar, a BJP panchayat member
- Injury
- An arrow pierced her waist
- Disputed post
- Pradhan, or rural body head
- Proposed pradhan
- BJP panchayat member Juthika Barman
- Location
- Nazirahat-II panchayat, Dinhata-II block, Cooch Behar
- Police response
- Police brought the situation under control and posted personnel in the area
- Detention
- Sources said one person was detained, but police did not officially confirm it