Amid Manipur horror, BJP alleges two tribal women stripped naked, tortured in Bengal's Malda
Kolkata: Amid outrage over a recent viral video where two women were seen paraded naked by a mob in strife-hit Manipur, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday alleged that two tribal women were stripped naked and tortured in West Bengal's Malda region recently.
The party further alleged that when the incident occurred the police remained a “mute spectator”.
BJP I-T cell head Amit Malviya, who is also the party's co-incharge for West Bengal, tweeted a video of the incident and wrote: "The horror continues in West Bengal. Two Tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola Police Station, Malda."
He claimed the incident happened on July 19.
Targeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who criticised the Manipur incident, Malviya said, "The women belonged to socially marginalised community and had a frenzied mob baying for her blood… It had all the making of a tragedy that should have ‘broken’ Mamata Banerjee’s heart and she, instead of merely outraging, could have acted, since she is also the Home Minister of Bengal."
The horror continues in West Bengal. Two Tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola Police Station, Malda.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 22, 2023
The horrific incident took place on the morning of 19th July. The women… pic.twitter.com/tyve54vMmg
"But she chose to do nothing. Neither did she condemn the barbarity nor did she express pain and anguish because it would have exposed her own failing as a Chief Minister," he said.
"But a day after, she shed copious tears and screamed blue murder, because it was politically expedient," he said.
Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar slammed the new opposition alliance named I.N.D.I.A. over the Malda episode and tweeted: "Another horrific incident with the Tribal women in WB.
Another horrific incident with the Tribal women in WB.
— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) July 22, 2023
Two Tribal women were stripped naked & beaten mercilessly in Malda.
Like other heinous incidents, Didi is silent & not taking any action in her own rule.
Why I.N.D.I.A. isn’t condemning this?
pic.twitter.com/3liCO5bNIY
Two Tribal women were stripped naked & beaten mercilessly in Malda. Like other heinous incidents, Didi is silent & not taking any action in her own rule. Why I.N.D.I.A. isn’t condemning this?"
TMC reacts:
Meanwhile, West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader Shashi Panja said it was a case of theft and the two ladies tried to steal something from the market.
"A group of women tried to take law and order into their hands and started beating them. However, the police reached the spot. A case has been registered & police are investigating the matter," Panja was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
Mamata slams Modi over 'Manipur' incident
Mamata Banerjee, the only woman Chief Minister of the country, on Friday slammed Modi and his BJP over the recent incident in Manipur where a viral video in early May showed two women were paraded naked on road.
Despite Modi's strong response to the incident outside Parliament on Thursday, Mamata on Friday, while addressing the Martyrs's Day Rally in Kolkata, said, "BJP is planning to make fake videos and defame Bengal. This is evident in the Prime Minister's speech where he referred to West Bengal, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while referring to Manipur.
"I just ask the Prime Minister whether he is not even remotely sad over the incident in Manipur? He keeps on dictating over Bengal but has no love for women and their integrity in Manipur," she said.