West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK : West Bengal BJP President and Union Minister of State for Education, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, was detained by Kolkata Police on Tuesday evening while attempting to raise funds for victims of the recent communal violence in Murshidabad. The incident occurred near Hazra More, close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence.

Majumdar, accompanied by party workers, was collecting donations when police intervened, citing the need for prior permission for such activities in the high-security area. The BJP leader questioned the legality of his detention, stating, "Is it a crime to ask for funds for those affected? Can we not protest? This is our fundamental right." He was later released around 7:30 PM from Lalbazar, the headquarters of Kolkata Police. 

Earlier in the day, Majumdar and BJP supporters clashed with police in Chinsurah, Hooghly district, as they attempted to enter the district magistrate's office to protest against the Murshidabad violence. Majumdar criticized the state government's handling of the situation, alleging that corruption had permeated all sections of society under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's leadership. 

The Murshidabad violence, which erupted over an alleged objectionable message on a digital display board at a Kartik Puja pandal, resulted in at least three deaths and over 280 arrests. The clashes have intensified political tensions in the state, with both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP accusing each other of fostering unrest. Majumdar has called for a thorough investigation into the incident and demanded accountability from the state government.