West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK :  August 5, 2025, in Cooch Behar’s Khagrabari area, the convoy of West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, came under violent disruption while he was heading to meet the district Superintendent of Police—under a Calcutta High Court order—and to address concerns over alleged cases of harassment of BJP MLAs in the region. Despite police escort, the convoy’s bulletproof vehicle and a police pilot car were attacked as protesters reportedly pelted stones and wielded bamboo sticks, shattering windshields and damaging the vehicles’ protective glass .

Adhikari immediately accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of orchestrating a “murder plot” against him, claiming the attack was premeditated and led by local TMC leaders, particularly North Bengal development minister Udayan Guha. He asserted that the assailants included Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants allegedly gathered to execute the assault in the proximity of the Bangladesh border, and accusing the police of collusion in letting the attack proceed despite presence on site . He warned that if he had not been in a bulletproof car, the outcome could have been fatal.

TMC officials have strongly disputed these allegations, dismissing the incident as a “well‑scripted drama” engineered by the BJP to attract media attention and political sympathy. TMC district president Partha Pratim Roy claimed the party workers were conducting peaceful protests and accused BJP of manufacturing violence to serve internal agendas. Udayan Guha denied any involvement, framing the demonstrations as legitimate opposition to NRC implementation, alleged harassment of migrant labourers, and threats to Bengali identity. Guha added that those who insult Bengal or Bengali sentiment would face resistance from locals .

According to police reports, the demonstrations unfolded at nearly 19 locations along the convoy’s route, with protestors chanting slogans like “go back” and “thief” and raising black flags in opposition to BJP’s stance on the NRC and migrant registration. One suspect, identified as Ranjit Dey of Pundibari, has been arrested, and a full investigation has commenced under local authorities, with formal inquiries launched to determine the extent of law and order failures .

In response, the BJP organized statewide sit-in protests, including mass gatherings in Kolkata that caused significant traffic disruption. Party leaders demanded accountability and arrests, while drawing attention to what they termed the collapse of democratic norms in the state. Among those present in the convoy was former Union Minister Nisith Pramanik, who affirmed the attack as a calculated attempt on their lives and urged followers to remain composed in the face of provocation.

The incident has further escalated political tensions in West Bengal, especially ahead of the anticipated 2026 Assembly elections, reinforcing a narrative of confrontational politics along lines of migration, identity and anti-incumbency. With both parties leveling charges of staged violence and intimidation, Cooch Behar has become a flashpoint in the intensifying BJP‑TMC rivalry .

The allegations of targeted aggression and Rohingya involvement have drawn scrutiny from the central government, and officials have reportedly sought details from state authorities on security lapses. Meanwhile, statements by Adhikari claim that law enforcement allowed local leadership to facilitate the attack, further amplifying questions over institutional response during high‑profile political disputes .

This confrontation reflects deepening fault lines over migration, language politics, and control over ground narratives in Bengal. The political fallout—including mutual accusations of staging or orchestrating events—signals a volatile phase as both TMC and BJP gear up for what analysts expect will be a fiercely contested electoral battle.