A day after the Trinamul Congress suspended a local councillor allegedly for kicking an octogenarian to death, the high-handedness of another ruling party leader came to the fore when a TMC MLA was accused of assaulting Higher Secondary students who were returning home on bicycles, triggering tension in Nadia district on Sunday evening.
The incident happened at Murutia police station area in Nadia’s Karimpur when ruling party MLA Bimalendu Singh Roy allegedly assaulted a group of Higher Secondary students returning home on bicycles.
According to local sources, the incident took place at Baliadanga in Murutia when several Class XII students were cycling back after tuition classes.
The MLA’s vehicle was reportedly behind the students. Even after repeated honking, the cyclists allegedly did not move aside.
Locals and guardians claimed the road was narrow, leaving the students with little room to give way.
It is alleged that the MLA got down from his car, argued with the students and slapped a few of them.
As news of the incident spread, residents gathered and questioned how a public representative could allegedly manhandle students over such a minor issue.
Villagers demanded an apology from the MLA and staged a brief protest outside his residence.
Murutia police reached the spot and the agitation was withdrawn after assurances from the police.
However, the Karimpur MLA denied the allegations of assault.
“I did not hit anyone. I was only speaking to the students. At that time, some BJP leaders arrived and tried to harass me. This is a conspiracy to defame me,” Roy claimed.
The BJP, in turn, alleged that the MLA was dragging politics into the issue to cover up his own actions. With allegations and counter-allegations flying, political tensions in the area remain high.