Archive · 12 Oct 2026
AIDSO Marchers Injured in East Midnapore Attack Allegations
About 40 students were hurt during a march in East Midnapore, and 10 were badly injured.
The march was organised by a student group called AIDSO.
The group said people linked to the BJP and ABVP attacked the marchers.
It also said its office and a conference stage were damaged.
AIDSO said it reported the incident to district officials.
The marchers were supporting a protest asking India’s chief election commissioner to resign.
They also wanted changes to schools and teacher recruitment.
A BJP minister denied that the BJP was involved.
He said local youths may have reacted to things said during the march, and the police should investigate.
Around 40 AIDSO protesters were injured, including 10 critically, during a march at Bajkul in East Midnapore on Sunday.
AIDSO said suspected BJP and ABVP supporters attacked the marchers as they headed to a conference venue around 9am.
The march supported a Delhi movement seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and raised education-related demands.
AIDSO alleged its office was vandalised and set on fire and its conference stage damaged; it filed a complaint with district officials.
BJP minister Santanu Pramanik denied BJP involvement and said local youths may have reacted to allegedly objectionable procession statements.
- Who
- AIDSO protesters; AIDSO blamed suspected BJP and ABVP supporters, while BJP minister Santanu Pramanik denied BJP involvement.
- What
- About 40 protesters were injured in an alleged attack during a march; AIDSO also alleged vandalism and arson at its office and damage to a conference stage.
- When
- Sunday, around 9am.
- Where
- Bajkul, in Bhupatinagar, East Midnapore, West Bengal.
- Why
- AIDSO said the march supported a Delhi movement seeking Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and protested school closures, teacher recruitment, and the semester exam system.
AIDSO’s allegations
BJP minister’s response
Responsibility for the violence
AIDSO’s allegations
AIDSO alleged that suspected BJP- and ABVP-linked supporters attacked the marchers; district convener Laxman Chandra Ghorai blamed people associated with local BJP leadership.
BJP minister’s response
BJP minister Santanu Pramanik denied BJP involvement and said local youths may have reacted to statements made during the procession.
Events during the march
AIDSO’s allegations
AIDSO alleged that masked attackers carrying knives and bamboo sticks beat protesters and forced them to chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai.”
BJP minister’s response
Pramanik alleged that participants made objectionable statements and said the law should take its course through an impartial police investigation.
- Reported injuries
- Around 40 protesters, including 10 critically injured
- Organisation
- All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO)
- Incident location
- Bajkul-Bhagwanpur state highway, Bajkul, East Midnapore
- Reported time
- Sunday, around 9am
- Medical treatment
- Initially at Bhagwanpur Block Primary Health Centre; critically injured protesters were transferred to Tamralipto Medical College and Hospital in Tamluk
- Complaint
- AIDSO said it submitted a written complaint to the East Midnapore district superintendent of police and district magistrate
- BJP response
- Santanu Pramanik denied BJP involvement and said local youths may have reacted to statements made during the procession