India: Post-election political violence in Bengal — a summary report

Subsequent to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led her party, the Muslim-supported All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), to a thumping re-election victory against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s largely Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Indian state of West Bengal, massive vindictive post-election violence has been unleashed by TMC officials on opposition volunteers. Female opposition polling agents are being gang-raped, offices are being ransacked, and party volunteers being mercilessly slaughtered.

More than 500 BJP volunteers have fled to the neighboring state of Assam, which is setting up refugee camps for the persecuted people. Given the protection granted to TMC officials by the political elites of the state, there is little hope for their rampant violence being curbed by state law enforcement agencies. CM Banerjee has refused to even acknowledge the violence, claiming that the information being circulated on the media is about older agitations.

It’s not just the BJP that has had to bear the wrath of the celebratory TMC cadres. Even the Left Front and Congress have had their offices attacked and workers tortured. The state is descending into state-sponsored violence of the worst kind.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the Governor of West Bengal, and National Human Rights Commission, taking a suo motu cognizance of the matter, has directed on the spot investigations. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India, has ordered the Government of West Bengal to submit a report on this matter as soon as possible.

Some of the content below might be extremely graphic.

Evidence

1. National Students Union of India, a student organization affiliated with the Indian National Congress party attacked – https://twitter.com/SouravProsad1/status/1389288401451421696?s=20
2. General Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) on violence in Bengal – https://twitter.com/SitaramYechury/status/1389267415033278465?s=20
3. Aishe Ghosh, a Student Federation of India activist, President of Jawaharlal University Students Union, and candidate in West Bengal Legislative Assembly Elections 2021 from the CPI(M) on her party’s offices being attacked – Aishe (ঐশী) on Twitter: “TMC should atleast respect people’s mandate, which was given to you for working for the people of Bengal, not for unleashing violence on our people. Your party cadres are unleashing violence, attacking houses, party offices. This won’t be tolerated at any cost. https://t.co/Az3Ck4CRmg” / Twitter
4. BJP office in Nandigram constituency, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost to Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, being ransacked – https://twitter.com/sambitswaraj/status/1389216203546271746?s=20
5. Abhijeet Sarkar, opposition volunteer in the state capital of Kolkata, recording his video before he is killed – https://twitter.com/thakkar_sameet/status/1389160620176535552?s=20
6. Himanta Biswa Sarma, a Minister of Assam, confirming that Bengali refugees fleeing political persecution have been accepted in his state- https://twitter.com/himantabiswa/status/1389578848086335492?s=20
7. Shashi Tharoor from opposition INC acknowledges post poll violence in Bengal

The reports of violence by @AITCofficial workers against members& supporters of losing parties in Bengal are disturbing. I am sure this cannot be condoned by @MamataOfficial & count on her to take prompt& decisive action to stop this. The people's mandate shouldn't be undermined!

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 4, 2021

8. Women volunteers of opposition being thrashed by TMC men – https://twitter.com/SuvenduWB/status/1389269736094007300?s=20

NCW chairwoman took cognizance of the incident and has immediately ordered a report.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal-post-poll-violence-ncw-takes-suo-motu-cognisance-of-attacks-on-women/article34480007.ece

@NCWIndia is deeply perturbed by this incident as it questions the safety and security of women in the state. The Commission has written to DGP West Bengal for immediate action. A team headed by Chairperson @sharmarekha will be visiting West Bengal for further inquiry. pic.twitter.com/9TnnaSCwpc

— NCW (@NCWIndia) May 4, 2021

Wrote and talked to DGP #BengalViolence .Told him he should not be mook spectator of crime happening in the state against women and need 2act. To my horror he says they are still veryfing the videos. If this is the state of affairs, what help they will provide to women @HMOIndia

— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) May 4, 2021

9. Suvendu Adhikari’s car being attacked after he collected his election certificate – https://twitter.com/SuvenduWB/status/1388909273699127296?s=20
10. Member of Parliament from Asansol Babul Supriyo tweeted he is unable to come out fearing attack (someone shared his tweet in the group). Even a sitting parliamentarian feels unsafe, such is the order of lawlessness.
11. Opposition volunteer recounting the horrors after he was attacked – https://twitter.com/samitas53375357/status/1389400383726968839?s=20
12. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/elections/post-poll-clashes-in-west-bengal-several-dead/article34476889.ece
13. Newly elected MLA Chandana Bauri from Saltora Assembly constituency in Bankura district begs HM and PM to save the lives of opposition activists in West Bengal.It is important to note the MLA’s humble background, her husband is a daily wage earner, and total worth of her assets stand at just Rs 31,985.

Respected
Home Minister @AmitShah ji , I'm requesting you with folded hands "PLEASE SAVE OUR KARYAKARTA'S" in Bengal. Already Hunderds of houses & Shops got burnt, Thousands of karyakartas got beaten on road, even few were murdered .@HMOIndia @BJP4Bengal @BJP4India @blsanthosh

— MLA Chandana Bauri (@MlaChandana) May 3, 2021

https://www.indiatvnews.com/elections/news-bjp-chandana-bauri-wife-of-daily-wager-wins-saltora-assembly-seat-702118

14. Religious persecution of Hindus in the post election violence

https://twitter.com/NisithPramanik/status/1389499781072920584

This is the celebration of TMC goons in Bengal. Hinduism is at threat in Bengal nowadays. Congratulations to New government of Bengal. Urgent intervention of MHA and @jdhankhar1ji is required.#bengalvoilence#Bengal pic.twitter.com/ReoxsLBBQ1

— Nisith Pramanik (@NisithPramanik) May 4, 2021

Even TMC goons are not leaving Temples which are not at all politically associated. Congratulations to new government.#tmcgoons #PresidentRuleInBengal pic.twitter.com/CQ2ZPEC6BM

— Nisith Pramanik (@NisithPramanik) May 3, 2021

Temples targeted

https://twitter.com/NisithPramanik/status/1389240096642109443 Hindus targeted

15. Governor of WB, expresses anguish regarding post poll violence, seeks report on deteriorating law and order situation from Kolkata Commissioner of Police. ACS, CP, DGP were called upon to file a report, but none has filed one as of this article being written.

https://twitter.com/jdhankhar1/status/1389266525719207938

Police @WBPolice @CPKolkata must end senseless political violence, vandalism, arson, killings and intimidation that shames democracy.

Bengali diaspora world over has expressed concern over alarming lawlessness.

Why post poll violence only WB ? Why this assault on democracy?

— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) May 4, 2021

16. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/plea-in-supreme-court-for-deployment-of-central-forces-in-west-bengal/article34485133.ece?homepage=true