Caught On Cam: Bengal Minister Abuses Woman Forest Officer, BJP Slams Him For ‘Outraging Modesty Of Women’

West Bengal Minister Akhil Giri threatened and verbally abused a female forest official for removing illegal encroachments near Tajpur sea beach. The BJP slammed him for 'outraging modesty of women'.

West Bengal Minister Akhil Giri was seen threatening and verbally abusing a woman official of the state forest department, Moumita Sahu, and her team after they removed illegal encroachments near Tajpur sea beach. Giri, the TMC MLA from Ramnagar, was accompanied by locals during the confrontation on Saturday. Videos broadcast by television channels captured Giri threatening Sahu and her team, warning them of dire consequences.

This altercation followed the forest department's removal of illegal shops set up on their land, some of which were so close to the sea that they were submerged during high tides, news agency PTI reported.

A senior official from the state forest department reported that the anti-encroachment operation took place on Friday night, leading to the removal of these illegal establishments. Upon learning about this, Giri, along with local traders, confronted the forest officials on Saturday. Giri criticised the forest department, stating, "Many constructions have taken place on forest land, but the department could not do anything against them. The forest department is disturbing these poor people," he told PTI.

According to PTI sources, state Forest Minister Birbaha Hansda contacted Sahu and took note of the incident.

Bengal BJP Slams West Bengal Minister Akhil Giri For ‘Outraging Modesty Of Women’, TMC Distances Itself From Incident

The incident has also drawn criticism from the opposition. The Bengal BJP shared the video on social media platform X, condemning Giri's actions.

"West Bengal Minister Akhil Giri threatens a lady Forest Officer because she was performing her duty to remove illegal encroachment in forest areas... Will Mamata Banerjee dare to throw out this Minister and put him behind the bars? Will charges be filed against him for obstructing government workers and outraging the modesty of women? Let's see if this goon is kicked inside the jail for threatening to indirectly kill and outrage the modesty of a woman," the BJP's post read.

This controversy follows a previous incident two years ago when Giri's remarks on President Droupadi Murmu's appearance were severely criticised.

The TMC has distanced itself from Giri's recent behaviour, stressing that it does not support his actions and that the matter is being closely monitored by the party's leadership.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh addressed the media, stating, "We oppose Giri's words and behaviour. It is undesirable. If he had something to say about the forest department, he could have told Birbaha Hansda. Instead, the mistreatment of the woman officer is unfortunate. Our party does not endorse that. Party chief Mamata Banerjee and general secretary Abhishek Banerjee are keeping a tab on the matter", as quoted by PTI.