A mob attack on a group of seers in West Bengal has sparked yet another clash between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress. Accusing BJP leaders in Purulia of "misrepresenting and maligning" the whole incident, TMC leader Shashi Panja said: "BJP always has evaded accountability. The locals beat up the three sadhus because their allegation is that sadhus were kidnapping three girls from there. Local people reacted and rescued the girls. Police took sadhus to the police station. An investigation is on," news agency ANI reported.
After clips of the attack on seers went viral, twelve people were arrested in connection with the incident.
The seers or sadhus, who were on their way to Gangasagar, asked a group of women seeking directions, according to the police. When the women saw that the sadhus were simply coated in ash, they raised an alarm, and a crowd assaulted the sadhus.
Speaking with media, Purulia SP, Avijit Banerjee stated: "Three saints were going in a vehicle. Near Gourangdih, three girls were heading to a local Kali mandir for pooja when the car stopped near them and the Sadhus asked them something. Due to some language issues, some misunderstandings happened and the girls thought that the Sadhus were following them. The local public came and took the Sadhus near Durga Mandir and vandalised their car. The Sadhus were also manhandled."
A video from the scene also showed the crowd vandalising a vehicle belonging to the sadhus.
As the situation worsened, local police stepped in and rescued the sadhus, transporting them to the Kasipur Police Station.
Purulia Police Superintendent Banerjee commented on the incident, saying that a complaint had been filed and that investigations were underway. Police also stated that raids were being carried out to capture individuals responsible for the assault.
Madhur Goswami, a sadhu who claims he was assaulted by a mob in West Bengal's Purulia, said: "While we were on our way to Gangasagar, suddenly our car was stopped by a large mob which assaulted us."
Slamming TMC govt over the attack on sadhus in Purulia, VHP leader Surendra Jain said: "The deadly attack by TMC goons is not acceptable. It is unfortunate that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has developed an anti-Hindu environment in the state. We strongly condemn this. CM Mamata Banerjee should apologise to the nation."
Meanwhile, BJP MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato met sadhus who were assaulted by a mob in Purulia district.