The Trinamool Congress announced the suspension of the accused, Satyanarayan Misra, from the party, for an indefinite period. The Bishnupur organizational district leadership of TMC said he has also been removed from the panchayat samiti.

Misra also held the post of Sonamukhi block president of the Trinamool labour union — Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress. It is alleged that he repeatedly sexually assaulted the woman, who went to the Sonamukhi police station with her family on Friday. The police sent her to hospital.

Bankura Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Tiwari said an investigation is ongoing.

The TMC’s Bishnupur organisational district leadership reportedly announced Misra’s suspension “immediately” after the allegations, according to its president Vikramjit Chattopadhyay. He said, “We came to know around 10 am on Friday… We’ve already told the administration to remove him from the panchayat samiti.”

Sonamukhi’s BJP MLA Diwakar Gharami said, “We are saying again and again, not only in Sonamukhi but in the entire state, a situation like Sandeshkhali has been created courtesy of TMC leaders. This incident is proof of that. This is a very unfortunate incident. We don’t have the language to condemn this. After two weeks, the accused will again be seen walking around with the Trinamool flag in his hand. We demand the strictest punishment.”

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