Sukanta stopped near Mothabari; TMC, Cong slam ‘bid to instigate’
Times of India | 31 March 2025
123 Malda: Police on Sunday said 61 people had been arrested, 19 FIRs lodged and the tension in Mothabari due to violence "was under control". The internet, which had been curbed in three blocks, has also been restored.
The clashes over the past few days, however, spilled into the political arena with police stopping Bengal BJP president and junior Union minister Sukanta Majumdar 10km from where the violence took place. Both Trinamool and Congress criticised Majumdar for trying to "instigate" and not "help bring peace."
On Sunday morning, Majumdar headed towards Mothabari, protesting against an "undemocratic party in office" and expressing angst over police and state govt's handling of the situation.
"We came to see the families who were severely tortured and are still being threatened. We were stopped miles before Mothabari. We could have easily broken the barricade, but we do not believe in hooliganism," Majumdar said at Sadullapur, adding: "We will hold a rally on April 11."
Trinamool immediately questioned Majumdar's intent. "Police did what they had to do. They are tasked with maintaining law and order, and cannot be faulted for doing so. He (Majumdar) had only gone there to instigate, not help bring peace. And why do they keep forgetting that whenever Trinamool Congress tried to reach out to victims in UP, they were stopped? Why this double standard?"party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.
Congress MP Isha Khan Choudhury was also critical of Majumdar's movements and alleged that he was trying to incite violence. "His speech did not contain any effort to restore peace in the area. It was clear that he was trying to divide people before the election. This is against the spirit of the Constitution. We will not allow BJP to destroy the communal harmony in Malda," Choudhury said.
On Thursday, a number of persons were wounded and many shops and houses ransacked when clashes broke out between communities.
Malda SP Pradeep Yadav said: "Now the situation is under control."
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