Ranit Kr. Singh , Kolkata — A local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was allegedly assaulted by a group of youths in the Srikrishnapur area of Barasat, located in the North 24 Parganas district, on Friday evening. The victim, identified as former BJP district president Tapas Mitra, was reportedly targeted while visiting a local residence to attend a religious gathering and partake in puja offerings. Upon receiving reports of the escalating tension, a contingent from the Barasat police station quickly rushed to the spot to rescue the political leader and bring the situation under control. This violent confrontation has sparked significant political controversy across the region, especially since it closely follows a similar recent attack on another prominent local BJP figure, Rajiv Poddar, who was seriously injured just days prior.

Law enforcement authorities have officially initiated a thorough probe into the incident to identify the perpetrators and determine the exact political or personal motives behind the sudden confrontation. According to preliminary reports, an altercation broke out when a group of youths suddenly surrounded Mitra, which quickly escalated as more individuals gathered at the scene to physically push and beat him. The injured leader was safely escorted away from the mob by the police, after which he promptly visited the local police station to file a formal written complaint regarding the physical assault and property damage. Security has been temporarily tightened in the neighborhood to prevent further clashes, while investigators are currently questioning witnesses and scanning the area to track down the suspects involved in the disruption.

Detailing the harrowing experience, Tapas Mitra stated that he had simply gone to the guest house before a group of youths unexpectedly surrounded him, pushed him around, and broke his spectacles during the scuffle. A senior police official from the Barasat police station confirmed that they reached the spot immediately after being informed, successfully defused the heated situation, and have now started an active investigation based on the written complaint filed by the victim. Local BJP leadership issued a statement condemning the recurring violence against their party members, alleging a targeted campaign of political intimidation and demanding the immediate arrest of all the miscreants. Meanwhile, representatives of the ruling party rejected the allegations of political targeting, stating that the incident was likely the result of a localized personal dispute and cautioning against politicizing the matter before the police investigation concludes.