'Whatever Happened Was Good': Bengal Man In Flogging Video Won't Take Action Against TMC Leader

He said that he accepted the punishment because he felt guilty for bringing the woman to his home despite her being married. 

Screengrab of the viral video where a local TMC leader could be seen publicly flogging a couple. (Image Source: X/@MJ_das_)

The man, who along with the woman, was publically beaten in Chopra in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district believes that whatever happened "was good" and said he had no desire to pursue legal action against the accused.  The incident, which was captured on a camera and went viral on social media, showed a man repeatedly beating the couple with a bamboo stick while bystanders formed a circle around them. 

A local Trinamool Congress leader, Tajmul Haque, also known as JCB, has been named as an accused in the case. 

The incident drew widespread condemnation and calls for action against the perpetrators, while the victim justified the act. 

"Whatever happened was good. Now everything is settled, and we are at peace," an India Today report quoted the man as saying. "I am at home. I don't want any more trouble in my life," said the visibly terrified man. 

He said that he accepted the punishment because he felt guilty for bringing the woman to his home despite her being married. 

"I made a mistake by bringing the woman home," he confessed, adding: "It was decided in the kangaroo meeting that both of us should be publicly beaten in the street as punishment, and we accepted it."

Reiterating his acceptance of the punishment, the man said he agreed to be beaten according to the decision. "As a result, I wanted to be punished publicly as a small punishment decided in the arbitration meeting. I have no complaint against the accused TMC leader; I just want to be in peace."

He said that being in an illicit relationship is a crime within their caste and justified the punishment decided by the village meeting. He further said that they are now able to live peacefully, having been punished for their actions. 

Meanwhile, the woman who was also subjected to the flogging has filed a complaint over the incident.