Hindu leaders allege January 23 Kailashahar violence Instigated by some BJP leaders for personal gain

Leaders of a local Sanatani Hindu organization in Kailashahar under Unakoti district have publicly threatened to “skin alive” certain BJP leaders of the town and alleged that some leaders of the ruling BJP were using religion for their personal business interests and had attempted to incite communal tension by misleading party workers and supporters in order to protect themselves.

Addressing a press conference, the organization’s leaders warned that if such incidents are repeated in the future, they “know very well how to skin” those BJP leaders responsible.

It may be recalled here that on January 23 this year, the day of Saraswati Puja, a violent clash broke out in Kailashahar between two factions of the ruling BJP over contractor-related business interests. Nineteen days after the incident, on Wednesday( February 11), leaders of the local ruling party along with members of the Sanatani Hindu organization addressed a press conference and strongly condemned the episode of the January 23^rd .

Former BJP Kailashahar Mandal president, Ranbir Bhattacharya, senior Sanatani Hindu organization leader Shivaji Sengupta, and youth worker Joydeep Dhar jointly addressing the press conference at the residence of former Mandal president Ranbir Bhattacharya in the Govindpur area of the town, admitted that some them were  also involved in the events of January 23 and had gone to the spot at the request of BJP leaders.

According to Shivaji Sengupta, party leaders had informed him that Hindu girls were allegedly being prevented from entering a Saraswati Puja pandal because Muslim youths were eve-teasing them. BJP leaders, including the incumbent Mandal president, had reportedly gone to protest and were subsequently attacked.

As tensions escalated, police fired four rounds in an attempt to control the situation. When the situation remained volatile, police eventually resorted to a lathi-charge to bring it under control. Later that day, the house of Arup Dhar, president of the BJP Yuva Morcha’s Unakoti district committee, was vandalized, and his mother and wife were allegedly assaulted.

Sengupta said that from the day after Saraswati Puja, members of the Sanatani Hindu organization began investigating the true facts of the incident. He claimed that the alleged eve-teasing incident was “100 percent false” and that no such event had taken place. Instead, he asserted that the clash stemmed from internal disputes between two BJP factions over contractor-related business interests.

He further alleged that BJP leaders had used religion and communal provocation to serve their own interests and to protect themselves, thereby attempting to disrupt the peace and harmony of Kailashahar. Sengupta questioned how Hindus could vandalize the home of another Hindu, referring to Arup Dhar as a Hindu citizen whose house was attacked by fellow party members.

Strongly condemning the incident, Sengupta urged the residents of Kailashahar not to pay heed to rumours. He reiterated his warning that if BJP leaders attempt to create similar unrest in the future, the Sanatani Hindu organization “knows well how to deal with them.”

Also present at the press conference was Joydeep Dhar, a BJP worker and the brother of Arup Dhar, whose house had been vandalized. Joydeep stated that he was not at home during the attack but condemned the vandalism and the assault on two women in the house. He strongly criticized the BJP leaders over the incident.

Former BJP Mandal President Ranbir Bhattacharya said that Kailashahar is known as a cultural town where people have lived together peacefully for a long time. He appealed to all residents to remain vigilant and ensure that the town’s longstanding reputation for communal harmony remains intact.