BJP leaders attacked by mob during visit to flood-hit area in Bengal

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday alleged that its Maldah Uttar MP Khagen Murmu and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh were chased and assaulted in Jalpaiguri while reviewing flood damage in the region.

Murmu sustained serious injuries as his vehicle was ransacked by a mob of around 500 persons, who allegedly threw stones and attacked him and Ghosh with sticks, The Indian Express reported.

The BJP’s West Bengal unit accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of orchestrating the assault.

Ghosh told reporters that Murmu was “bleeding profusely”, the newspaper reported.

“When we visited the area, some people came up to us and said they were Didi’s sainik [Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s soldiers] and asked why we were there,” he was quoted as saying. “We said we are Modi ji’s sainik [Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s soldiers].”

He added that there was “nothing left of the car”.

“My entire body is covered in glass and Murmu is in the hospital,” said Ghosh.

Both leaders were shifted to a hospital in Siliguri.

Ghosh said the incident took place around 1 pm when he and Murmu had stepped out of their car to inspect flood damage.

A mob allegedly surrounded them and began assaulting Murmu, before his security personnel intervened.

The attackers reportedly shouted “Go away BJP” and threw stones, sticks and shoes at the car, shattering its windows.

Following the assault,...

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