A political storm has erupted in West Bengal following an attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Shankar Ghosh during their visit to flood-affected areas in the Jalpaiguri district on Monday, October 6, 2025. The incident occurred as the leaders were assessing the damage and distributing relief materials in Nagrakata, part of the Dooars region.
The attack has triggered a war of words between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemning the incident as "outright appalling" and criticizing the state's law and order situation. In response, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Prime Minister of politicizing a natural disaster.
Ghosh recounted the "horrifying" experience, stating that a mob confronted them, identifying themselves as "Didi's sainiks" (soldiers of Mamata), before attacking them. Murmu sustained serious head injuries and both he and Ghosh were hospitalized in Siliguri. Their conditions are reportedly stable.
Accusations are flying between the political parties. The BJP has accused the TMC of orchestrating the attack, while TMC leaders are dismissing the incident as a fallout of the opposition's "photo-op politics". North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha stated that while the TMC does not support violence, locals were agitated. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, alleged that the attackers were from a specific community, the same one that attacked his convoy previously.
The incident has further intensified the already strained relationship between the BJP and TMC, particularly in the aftermath of the recent devastating floods and landslides in North Bengal. These natural disasters, triggered by torrential rainfall, have claimed at least 28 lives and displaced thousands. The floods were further worsened by the release of water from dams and landslides.
The Prime Minister's condemnation of the attack included a post on X, where he highlighted the "insensitivity of the TMC" and the "absolutely pathetic law and order situation in the state". He also urged BJP workers to continue assisting in rescue operations. Banerjee retorted, accusing Modi of blaming the TMC and the West Bengal government without verified evidence, inquiry, or administrative report, calling it a breach of constitutional ethos.
The state government has announced compensation of ₹5 lakh and a job as a home guard to the families of those who died in the floods. Banerjee has blamed the Centre for poor flood management and pointed to the release of water from dams as a contributing factor. She has also emphasized the need for an Indo-Bhutan River Commission to manage transboundary river issues.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert prior to the heavy rains, warning of extremely heavy rainfall in several districts. The State government is focusing on relief and rescue operations, with Chief Minister Banerjee personally inspecting the affected areas.
