Siliguri, West Bengal: A peaceful protest over the alleged assault of a tribal woman escalated into violent clashes with police in northern West Bengal’s Siliguri on Thursday, deepening political tensions in the region. The demonstrations, organised by the Janjati Suraksha Manch, turned chaotic when protesters tried to march towards Uttarkanya, the state government’s north Bengal secretariat, demanding justice and strict action in the case.
The agitation was sparked by an incident in December 2025, in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district, where a seven-month-pregnant tribal woman was allegedly assaulted by a civic volunteer during a land dispute, according to protesters. They have also linked the case to the death of her unborn child, claiming that despite a police complaint, not all accused have been arrested.
On Thursday afternoon, members of the Janjati Suraksha Manch backed by local leaders including BJP MLAs such as Shikha Chatterjee and Durga Murmu began the march from Jalpai More towards Uttarkanya to demand capital punishment for the main accused and arrests of others allegedly involved.
However, at Tin Batti More, police set up barricades to stop the rally, warning the crowd that the march was not authorised. Tensions quickly escalated when protesters attempted to push past the police line. Demonstrators allegedly hurled stones and water bottles, burned tyres on the road and attempted to break through the barricades, leading to violent exchanges with law enforcement.
In response, police deployed water cannons and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Officers also carried out a mild baton charge after efforts to control the situation through announcements failed. Several protesters were detained at the scene, and a number of people on both sides were reported injured.
The clashes caused major disruption in traffic around the Tin Batti More intersection and drew angry reactions from political figures. BJP leaders criticised the state administration and accused authorities of failing to protect the tribal community and of using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators. They reiterated calls for justice and stronger action in the assault case.
Meanwhile, leaders from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) defended the police action, saying that law and order had to be maintained and that the protest had turned violent without permission. They condemned attempts to politicise the issue and urged all sides to allow legal processes to take their course.
Following the violence, security was tightened around key locations in Siliguri, and police said investigations into both the original assault case and the protest unrest were ongoing. The incident has intensified local political debates just months ahead of state elections, with parties trading blame over responsibility for both the initial assault and the subsequent unrest.
