A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporter was mercilessly beaten and thrown to the ground by a Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) leader and activists twice during a protest. She was first beaten amid police presence and then assaulted again in front of a satellite News channel.
The attacker, Trinamool leader, involved in the two different incidents but the victim was the same – Nilima De Sarkar, is said to be a supporter of BJP.
The horrific incident reportedly took place on last Wednesday when BJP had announced a Bharat Bandh in West Bengal. The TMC leader attacked her twice, the first attack on her was widely broadcasted on television on the day of Bandh. The video of thrashing BJP supporters is going viral on social media, but no arrest has been made so far.
On September 26, the victim was among some BJP supporters who had put up a rail block in the Barasat, about 40 km from Kolkata. Suddenly, Trinamool supporters led by the local panchayat chief, Arshaduzzaman, charged at the BJP supporters. A cellphone video recorded by a witness shows Ms De Sarkar trying run away and avoid blows but is brutally kicked and thrown to the ground by the TMC leader. She then went sprawling on the road in front of a level crossing. A policeman steps forward to stop further attacks on her.
After some time, a reporter approached her to take her interview over the incident. Before the camera could roll, she has brazenly attacked again by him. A Trinamool leader charges at her with a staff in hand and knocks Ms De Sarkar off her feet, sending her flying on the road again.
The accused has been identified by the BJP as Qutubuddin, an aide of Arshanduzzaman, the man who kicked Ms De Sarkar first. While The Trinamool party is yet to issue any official comment regarding the incident.
Also read: Karnataka: Man beheads friend for raping mother, surrenders