'No Evidence': Bengal Police Says After BJP Alleges Panchayat Poll Candidate Paraded Naked In Howrah

The complaint had triggered serious accusations from the BJP, with state president Sukanta Majumdar likening the situation to that of Manipur. 

File Photo Of West Bengal BJP President and MP Sukanta Majumdar

Source : PTI

West Bengal's Director-General of Police (DGP), Manoj Malviya, stated on Friday that no evidence was found to substantiate the complaint regarding the alleged incident of a woman candidate being stripped and paraded naked during the panchayat election in Howrah district's Panchla on July 8. The complaint had triggered serious accusations from the BJP, with state president Sukanta Majumdar likening the situation to that of Manipur. 

However, the police investigation found no supporting evidence after filing an FIR under relevant sections of the IPC based on the woman's complaint. Despite repeated summons, neither the complainant nor her husband turned up to record their statements, further complicating the investigation. The ruling TMC questioned the timing of the BJP's allegations and emphasised the lack of reported incidents earlier. The BJP countered, attributing the absence of video evidence to the challenging circumstances in TMC-ruled Bengal.

During the press conference, BJP MP Locket Chatterjee sobbed. "Despite being a woman, West Bengal's chief minister remains silent. You decide where we'll go. We also want our daughters to be saved," she sobbed.

Malviya stated that police found no evidence after investigating the e-mail complaint received on July 13.

"On July 13, an e-mail complaint was received. "The Superintendent of Police (Howrah-Rural) immediately gave instructions to begin an investigation and file an FIR," the DGP was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

According to him, an FIR was filed on July 14 under relevant sections of the IPC in response to the woman's complaint, but no evidence supporting the allegations in the complaint could be found.

He claimed that despite repeated summons, neither the complainant nor her husband appeared to record their statements under Section 164 of the CrPC, PTI reported. "There was no response from the complainant or her family," he added.

The ruling TMC questioned why the BJP brought up the incident so soon after the nationwide outrage over the May 4 incident in Manipur, in which two women were paraded naked by a mob.

"Report after report, including the latest video, is coming from BJP-ruled Manipur." And it is only now that BJP leaders have brought this up. Allow the investigation to proceed. But, if such an incident occurred, it is puzzling why it was not reported sooner. Is there any video evidence?" Joy Prakash Majumdar, the TMC's state spokesperson, stated, as per the report. 

In response, the BJP state president stated, "We don't have the video footage because filming such atrocities is not possible in TMC-ruled Bengal".