Couple In 'Illicit Relationship' Thrashed With Sticks In Bengal, Accused Arrested After Video Goes Viral

A chilling video has emerged from Bengal in which a man can be seen thrashing two people, including a woman, on a street as a group of people watched silently. The incident reportedly occurred over the weekend at Chopra in north Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district. The Bengal Police have arrested the accused after registering a case on Sunday.

The brutal assault took place following a decision of a ‘Salishi Sabha’ (Kangaroo court) after the couple was accused of engaging in an illicit relationship.

Islampur Police Superintendent Joby Thomas K said the police have watched the video clip on social media and registered a case after verification.

In the visuals shared online, a man is seen repeatedly hitting a woman with sticks in front of a crowd in open. She screams in pain as the crowd continues to watch in silence. The man then started beating the man lying next to the woman. At one point, the man grabs the woman by her hair and kicks her.

Posting the video online, the BJP attacked the ruling TMC government and questioned, “Will Mamata Banerjee act against this monster or defend him like she stood up for Sheikh Shahjahan?”

Attacking the ruling Trinamool government, the BJP and CPM leaders alleged that the assailant was a local TMC strongman Tajemul who is known to deliver “instant justice” for local disputes.

However, the TMC has responded saying that the accused did not hold any post in the party. Trinamool district president Kaniyalal Agarwal attributed the incident to the couple’s alleged illicit relationship, which “did not go down well with the villagers”. He further said that the party would investigate the episode.

TMC spokesperson Shantanu Sen condemned the incident but also pointed out that such kangaroo courts were common during the Left Front regime too.

BJP, CPM Hits Out

Hitting out at the TMC, BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya said that “this is the ugly face of Mamata Banerjee’s rule in West Bengal”. “The guy in the video, who is beating up a woman mercilessly, is Tajemul (popular as JCB in the area). He is famous for giving quick justice through his ‘insaf’ sabha and is a close associate of Chopra MLA Hamidur Rahaman,” Malviya alleged. 

“India must wake up to the reality of Sharia Courts in TMC-run West Bengal. There is a Sandeshkhali in every village and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is a curse for women. There is no semblance of law and order in Bengal. Will Mamata Banerjee act against this monster or defend him like she stood up for Sheikh Shahjahan?” he asked. 

CPM state secretary and former MP Mohammed Salim also raised concerns over the incident and said,”Not even Kangaroo Court! Summary trial and punishment handed out by TMC goon nicknamed JCB. Literally bulldozer justice at Chopra under Mamata Banerjee’s rule.”

Salim also said the man who shot the video has now been ousted from his home. The CPM leader alleged that JCB aka Tajemul, who is mercilessly attacking the woman, is also the main accused in the murder of Com. Mansur Alam. “Murderers remain at large, travesty of justice continues in Bengal,” he said.