Kolkata, 6 August (H.S.) – West Bengal Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has named state minister Udayan Guha along with 40 others in a police complaint over an attack on his convoy in Cooch Behar. The complaint, filed through Adhikari’s lawyer, was submitted to Cooch Behar Superintendent of Police Dyutiman Bhattacharya. Guha is the Minister of State for North Bengal Development.

Cooch Behar district police on Wednesday said the number of arrests in the case had risen to seven, up from three on Tuesday evening. Police also stated that the arrested individuals’ identities disproved Adhikari’s earlier claims that the attackers were illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators.

Reacting sharply, Minister Guha dismissed the allegations as baseless. “No Rohingya or Bangladeshi Muslim has been arrested, nor are their names in the police complaint. He should apologise for his remarks. Anyone who insults Bengalis or the Bengali language will be shown black flags,” he said.

The attack occurred on Tuesday as Adhikari arrived in Cooch Behar to attend a scheduled protest rally. His convoy was allegedly targeted as it entered the city, sparking tension in the area. Adhikari, along with 65 BJP legislators, was set to march from Cooch Behar town to the district police superintendent’s office to submit a memorandum over recent attacks on elected BJP representatives in the district.

Adhikari has claimed that repeated assaults on BJP leaders and workers reflect a deteriorating law and order situation in West Bengal, for which he holds the state government responsible.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh