“Seers Assaulted On The Suspicion Of Being Abductors, 12 Arrested”: West Bengal Minister

After a video went viral with the Bharatiya Janata Party accusations that a ‘Palghar-type’ attack happened on a group of sadhus (seers) in the Purulia district of West Bengal, the state police have arrested 12 people to the incident. A state minister has said the seers were assaulted by the locals on the suspicion of the latter being abductors.

Shashi Panja, West Bengal minister of women and child development and social welfare, and also senior Trinamool Congress leader said the case is being investigated.

“Some sadhus came to Purulia in a car with a UP number plate. They were assaulted by the locals on the suspicion of being abductors. 12 people have been arrested, and the case is being investigated,” news agency PTI quoted as Ms Panja was saying on the alleged assault on sadhus.

BJP, on the other hand, has used social media platforms to trend the incident and its Wenst Bengal unit said: “Shame on Mamata Banerjee”s deafening silence! Are these Hindu Sadhus not worthy of your acknowledgment? The atrocity demands accountability”. The BJP West Bengal comment was posted on social media on a video posted by Amit Malviya, party”s IT cell head.

Meanwhile, Purulia superintendent of police Avijit Banerjee has confirmed the incident and said the police has provided the seers with all possible assistance.

“Three saints were going in a vehicle…Near Gourangdih, three girls were heading to a local Kali mandir for pooja when the car stopped near them and the sadhus asked them something. Due to some language issues, some misunderstandings happened and the girls thought that the sadhus were following them… The local public came and took the sadhus near Durga Mandir and vandalised their car. The sadhus were also manhandled… The police provided the sadhus with all possible assistance…,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.