BJP MLA Leads Protest Against Alleged Assault on Hindu Devotees During Charak Puja

On Sunday in Siliguri, West Bengal, BJP legislator Shankar Ghosh spearheaded a demonstration to condemn the alleged attack on two Hindu devotees during their Charak Puja ceremonies at the Mahananda River. Ghosh pointed fingers at a Trinamool Congress (TMC) party member as the primary instigator of the violence and expressed his frustration with the state government's inaction in addressing the situation.

The MLA insisted that if the accused individual is not apprehended within the next two days, he would rally the Charak Puja Committee for further protests. Ghosh expressed his discontent with the state of affairs, remarking that despite having a Hindu Chief Minister, Hindus in West Bengal are subjected to attacks, underscoring a distressing environment where it feels like a “sin” to be born a Hindu in the region. He recounted an incident where two youths were assaulted after objecting to harassment while performing their religious rites, and he lamented that such violence serves as a testament to the hostility faced by the Hindu community.

Charak Puja, which takes place on Chaitra Sankranti marking the end of the Bengali calendar year, is a ritual dedicated to Lord Shiva wherein male devotees traditionally swing from poles with hooks affixed to their backs. This ongoing tension in the state is further highlighted by recent violent protests linked to the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, which resulted in clashes between demonstrators and police in Murshidabad and Jangipur, leading to casualties and property damage. In light of the escalating unrest, the Border Security Force was deployed to assist local law enforcement following directives from the Calcutta High Court.