"Law and Order in very bad condition in West Bengal": Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury after Purulia incident

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], January 13 : Lashing out at the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal over the Purulia incident, where a group of Sadhus was allegedly thrashed by a mob, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday said that the law and order in the state is in a very bad condition.
The Congress West Bengal chief said that till Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's party is in power, the condition will remain the same.
"Law and Order is in a very bad condition in West Bengal. Till TMC is there in power in the state, the condition will remain same," Chowdhury said.
This came days after a video went viral that showed a group of seers being purportedly stripped and assaulted by a mob in the Purulia district.
Earlier in the day, Purulia Superintendent of Police (SP), Avijit Banerjee said that 12 people have been arrested in this connection and a case has been registered.
"A case has been initiated on the complaint by the Sadhus. 12 people have been arrested so far and an investigation is underway. We have taken some people into police custody for further investigation," the SP said.
Banerjee said that the police provided the Sadhus with all possible help and their vehicle was repaired.
"When police received the information, they rushed to the spot. The Police provided the Sadhus with all possible assistance. The vandalised vehicle was repaired," he said.
Narrating the incident, the SP said the whole incident took place owing to a misunderstanding with three girls as they failed to failure to understand their language.
"Three Sadhus were going in a vehicle towards Chakna near Kasipur road. Near Gourangdih, three girls were heading to a local Kali mandir for pooja when the car stopped near them and the Sadhus asked them something. Due to some language issues, some misunderstandings happened and the girls thought that the Sadhus were following them. So they created a hue and cry. The local public came and took the Sadhus near Durga Mandir and vandalised their car. The Sadhus were also manhandled. When police received the information, they rushed to the spot," the SP said.
The Purulia Police issued a statement on the incident, saying that facts are being "misrepresented" by "certain quarters" about the incident.
"Facts are being misrepresented from certain quarters about a recent incident in Purulia. The fact is, on 11.01.24 afternoon, there was a misunderstanding between three Gangasagar-bound Sadhus with three local minor girls near Kashipur over language problem. The girls got scared and local people manhandled the Sadhus and damaged their vehicle, alleging a kidnapping attempt. Local police promptly intervened and rescued the Sadhus. 12 people have been arrested over the incident on the basis of a specific case. All possible assistance was rendered to the sadhus," the statement read.