The violent assault on BJP MP Khagen Murmu during a flood relief mission in West Bengal has now reached the Calcutta High Court, with multiple petitions demanding investigations by central agencies.
On October 6, Murmu and BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh were allegedly attacked by a mob in Nagrakata, Jalpaiguri district, while attempting to distribute relief materials in flood-affected areas of North Bengal. According to reports, their convoy was pelted with stones, sticks, and shoes, leaving both leaders injured.
The situation turned critical for Murmu, who suffered severe injuries and was initially rushed to a state hospital. He was later transferred to a private facility in Jalpaiguri, where he remains admitted in the ICU.
Two separate pleas were filed before the Calcutta High Court on Thursday, both seeking central agency intervention in the case. The vacation bench of Justice Kausik Chanda and Justice Reetobrata Kumar Mitra has allowed the matters to be filed, with hearings scheduled for October 14.
The first petition, a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate Anindiya Sundor Das, demands an NIA probe into the incident. Das argues that since Murmu belongs to the Scheduled Tribe community, relevant sections of the SC/ST protection should be invoked. More significantly, the petition raises concerns about possible involvement of "infiltrators," given the incident's proximity to an international border.
"We have asked for an NIA investigation as it has taken place in the border area," Das told reporters after the hearing.
BJP leader Bijon Goswami filed a separate petition before Justice Om Narayan Rai's single bench, taking aim at local police response. His counsel, Mayukh Mukherjee, argued that law enforcement failed to perform their duties and took no immediate action following the attack.
"The police were not performing their duty, they had not taken any steps. All CCTVs have to be taken and culprits have to be identified and arrested," Mukherjee submitted in court, pushing for both NIA and CBI investigations.
The incident has sparked fresh tensions between the BJP and West Bengal's ruling establishment. The attack on a sitting MP during a humanitarian mission has raised serious questions about security arrangements and law enforcement in the state.
BJP leaders have been vocal in their criticism, alleging that political workers face regular intimidation in West Bengal. The party claims this latest incident represents an escalation of violence against its members in the state.
Meanwhile, the emphasis on the border location adds another dimension to the case. North Bengal's proximity to international boundaries has made petitioners argue for a wider security lens in investigating the attack.
Attacks on elected representatives, regardless of party affiliation, strike at the heart of democratic functioning. The fact that Murmu was on a relief mission helping flood-affected citizens makes the incident even more troubling.
The invocation of SC/ST provisions also highlights the identity-based nature of the alleged assault. As a tribal leader, Murmu's case brings additional legal protections into play, potentially making this a test case for how such crimes are prosecuted.
With the MP still in intensive care and multiple investigations being demanded, all eyes are now on the October 14 hearing. The court's decision on whether to hand over the probe to central agencies could set an important precedent for similar cases in the future.
For now, questions remain: Who orchestrated the attack? Why were security arrangements inadequate? And will justice be served swiftly enough to restore faith in the system?
