West Bengal BJP President, Sukanta Majumdar, sustained injuries on Wednesday as he fell onto a car's bonnet while addressing a protest programme in Taki, North 24 Parganas district. The incident occurred amid a chaotic situation involving police personnel attempting to bring Majumdar down from a vehicle during his speech.
Archana Majumdar, BJP leader and Basirhat unit observer, told news agency PTI, "All of a sudden, a woman wearing a headscarf and a pink saree was seen climbing onto the bonnet. First, she pushed a lady police constable, and then she pushed Sukantada and another policeman".
Police have taken note of the incident and are currently investigating.
Majumdar initially received treatment at Basirhat Government Hospital before being transferred to Apollo Hospital in Kolkata for further medical attention.
The BJP leader had climbed atop an SUV after police stopped him from proceeding to the restive Sandeshkhali area, which has been witnessing protests over the past week regarding alleged atrocities on villagers.
According to a PTI report, a video posted on his social media showed Majumdar addressing the media from atop the bonnet, accompanied by state police personnel. Suddenly, a woman in a saree and headscarf climbed onto the bonnet, pushing a lady police personnel and then Majumdar and another police personnel.
Majumdar, who briefly lost consciousness, was taken to Basirhat government hospital and later to a private facility in Kolkata for treatment.
The TMC mocked Majumdar, accusing him of staging a drama. TMC spokesperson Santanu Sen said, "Sukanta Majumdar knows very well that he is going to face defeat from his seat. So he has started practising acting so that he can start his film career."
After being prevented from going to Sandeshkhali by the district administration on Tuesday, the state BJP president stayed at a guest house in Taki following a dharna in front of Basirhat police district SP's office.
Majumdar attempted to go to Sandeshkhali again on Wednesday morning but was prevented by the police.
Responding to the BJP leader's allegations, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused the saffron party of trying to "vitiate the atmosphere".
Commenting on the incident, Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari told reporters that, "The way West Bengal Police manhandled Sukanta Majumdar, it was done deliberately... Mamata Banerjee is responsible for this behaviour. He (Sukanta) is currently kept in the ICU".
However, BJP leaders defied prohibitory orders and continued their march to Sandeshkhali, resulting in a clash with police.
Protests continued in Sandeshkhali for the seventh consecutive day, with a significant number of women demanding the arrest of TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan and his alleged "gang." The accusations against Shajahan and his aides include forcefully capturing land and sexually harassing women. Shajahan has been absconding since last month, wanted in connection with a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate officers during a raid at his residence in an alleged ration scam.