In a concerning incident, four individuals who emerged victorious in the panchayat elections against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district were allegedly abducted from a house in Kolkata. The incident has raised questions about the safety and security of winning candidates in the region.
According to reports, eight candidates who won against the TMC in Mathurapaur sought refuge in Kolkata after facing threats from the ruling party following the announcement of election results on July 11. Since July 25, they had been staying in a rented house in east Kolkata to escape the intimidation.
On Thursday night, a group of 20-25 armed individuals, believed to be TMC activists, arrived at the house in four vehicles and reportedly abducted four of the candidates. Among those abducted, three were associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the fourth was an independent candidate supported by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).
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“On Thursday night, 20–25 armed TMC goons came to the house in four vehicles and abducted four of us,” Paramita Pramanik, one of the eight candidates who were hiding in Kolkata told reporters.
The owner of the rented house, Bappa Ghosh, stated that the abductors posed as guests attending a marriage ceremony before forcefully taking away some of the residents in their vehicles.
Following the incident, a complaint was filed with the Kolkata police, who are currently investigating the matter. Senior leaders from the CPI-M have expressed their concern over the situation and have indicated their intention to take the matter to court.
BJP leader Rahul Sinha criticised the deteriorating law and order situation in West Bengal, citing the alleged abduction of winning candidates as evidence of escalating violence.
In response, the TMC has denied involvement in the incident and distanced itself from any such actions. TMC MP Santanu Sen accused the BJP of using intimidation tactics and financial power to lure winning candidates to their party.
The alleged abduction has sparked controversy and added to the already tense political climate in West Bengal. The incident highlights the importance of ensuring the safety and security of elected representatives, and calls for a thorough investigation into the matter to bring those responsible to justice.
