3 weeks ago
Malda BJP Leader Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Civic Volunteer
A man named Sumanta Das, who is a leader of a political group called the BJP, has been arrested by the police.
The arrest happened in a place called Malda.
Das is accused of being rude to a volunteer named Ashish Saha and of pushing him.
Saha was working at night near the Moulpur rural hospital when Das and his friends asked him to move stray cows off the road.
Saha said he could not do it because he was on duty, and then the men shouted at him and one of them pushed him.
Saha was treated at the hospital and later told the police what happened.
Das says he was just complaining that the cows were causing problems for people.
Das once ran in a local election but did not win, and leaders of his party say the law will decide what happens next.
The police are still investigating.
Police arrested BJP leader Sumanta Das in Malda for allegedly abusing and assaulting on-duty civic volunteer Ashish Saha.
The alleged incident occurred around 12:30am when Das and his aides asked Saha to remove stray cattle from a municipal road and he declined.
Saha said he was abused and pushed, was treated at the Moulpur rural hospital, and later lodged a police complaint.
Das was detained Friday evening and then arrested; on social media he said he had protested stray cattle causing public inconvenience.
Das lost the 2022 ward-7 municipal election as the BJP candidate, and a BJP leader said the law will take its own course as the probe continues.
- Who
- Sumanta Das, a BJP leader from Moulpur under Old Malda municipality, and civic volunteer Ashish Saha.
- What
- Das was arrested for allegedly abusing and assaulting Saha, an on-duty civic volunteer, after Saha declined to remove stray cattle.
- Where
- Moulpur area under Old Malda municipality, Malda.
- When
- Around 12:30am on Friday; Das was detained and later arrested on Friday evening.
- Why
- Saha said he was on duty and could not remove stray cattle, after which Das and his aides allegedly abused him and one pushed him, leading to a police complaint.
Civic volunteer and police account
BJP leader's account
Nature of the incident
Civic volunteer and police account
Saha says Das and his aides abused him and one pushed him after he said he was on duty and could not remove stray cattle; he was treated at the hospital and lodged a police complaint.
BJP leader's account
Das says he only protested because stray cattle were moving freely on roads and causing inconvenience to common people, and that protesting against wrongs leads to problems.
Political context of the confrontation
Civic volunteer and police account
Police detained and then arrested Das, an officer said the probe is on, and a BJP leader said the law will take its own course.
BJP leader's account
Das had earlier protested against the Trinamool-run municipality and helped women fill out Annapurna Yojana forms, portraying the episode as civic activism against municipal failures.
Key facts
- Accused
- Sumanta Das, BJP leader from Moulpur, Old Malda municipality
- Complainant
- Ashish Saha, civic volunteer on duty at Moulpur rural hospital
- Incident time
- Around 12:30am on Friday
- Allegation
- Abuse and assault of an on-duty civic volunteer
- Reported trigger
- Saha declined to remove stray cattle from a municipal road
- Das's stated defense
- Stray cattle were causing public inconvenience; protesting wrongs brings problems
- Background
- Lost the 2022 ward-7 municipal election as the BJP candidate
- Case status
- Arrested; probe ongoing
Quotes
BJP Leader of Malda North
BJP party official responding to the arrest
“"As I was on duty at the Moulpur rural hospital area, I expressed my inability to do his bidding. He and his friends abused me, and one of them even pushed me."”
telegraphindia.com
“"The law will take its own course."”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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