CPI(M) accuses BJP of vandalising party office in Cooch Behar
Synopsis
Hours after a CPI(M) protest march demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Cooch Behar, the party's office in North Bengal was allegedly attacked and vandalised — with the Left blaming BJP workers. The BJP has flatly denied involvement, and no police complaint has been filed yet, leaving a contested account of a night of political tension.
Key Takeaways
The CPI(M) alleges its office in Jorpatki, Mathabhanga No.
I Block, Cooch Behar was attacked and vandalised on Saturday night .
The alleged attack followed a CPI(M) protest march in Golakganj Bazar demanding, among other things, the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar .
Additional demands included ₹3,000 per month payments to women, inclusion of valid voters in electoral rolls, and Annapurna Yojana coverage.
BJP district member Rajib Sarkar denied any party involvement, calling the allegations 'wild.' Police confirmed no written complaint has been received; an investigation will begin once one is filed.
CPI(M) district member Moksedul Islam said a formal complaint will be lodged.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers attacked and vandalised its party office in the Jorpatki area of Mathabhanga No. I Block, Cooch Behar district, North Bengal, on Saturday night. The alleged attack came hours after CPI(M) cadres held a protest march in the Golakganj Bazar area, raising several political and social demands including the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
What Happened on Saturday Night
According to the CPI(M), the Jorpatki Area Committee of the party conducted a march through Golakganj Bazar with police permission. The procession carried multiple demands: the removal and 'punishment' of the CEC, immediate inclusion of valid voters in the electoral rolls, payment of ₹3,000 per month to women, registration of eligible beneficiaries under the Annapurna Yojana, and curbs on rising prices of essential commodities.
Party workers reportedly gathered at the office for roughly an hour after the march concluded, then locked up and returned home. The office was allegedly attacked and demolished later that night, with items inside also reportedly vandalised.
What CPI(M) Leaders Said
CPI(M) district member Moksedul Islam confirmed that a formal complaint is yet to be filed but said it would be lodged. He alleged: 'After the procession, our workers assembled at the party office and held discussions for an hour. The office was locked after everyone returned home. But a few hours later, the BJP attacked it.'
Islam also warned that intimidation would not silence the Left. 'In West Bengal, instead of establishing the rule of law, they are trying to establish rule by the ruler. If they think that the red flag will be folded if they attack the workers, attack the party office, and vandalise it, then they are making a big mistake,' he said.
BJP Denies Involvement
Rajib Sarkar, BJP district committee member and former president of BJP Mandal No. 2, categorically denied the accusations. 'I have heard that the CPI(M) party office was vandalised. However, no one from the BJP is involved in this incident. If the CPI(M)'s party office were to be vandalised, then the BJP would not have had to wait five months after the formation of the government,' he said, calling the allegations 'wild.'
Police Response and Next Steps
Local police confirmed that no written complaint has been filed in connection with the alleged attack as of Sunday. Authorities stated that an investigation will be initiated once a formal complaint is received. The CPI(M) has indicated it intends to file one. This incident follows a broader pattern of inter-party clashes in West Bengal, where political violence between the Left and the BJP — as well as the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) — has been a recurring concern ahead of electoral cycles.
Point of View
But the absence of a police complaint weakens the evidentiary foundation of the accusation at this stage. What stands out is the timing: the attack, if confirmed, occurred within hours of a march that directly targeted a constitutional authority — the Chief Election Commissioner — raising the political stakes well beyond a local turf dispute. The BJP's denial, while categorical, relies on a logical argument rather than an alibi, and the party has not offered an alternative account of events. Until a complaint is filed and investigated, both sides are essentially operating in a space of competing assertions, which is precisely the environment in which political violence in Bengal tends to go unaccounted for.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the CPI(M) allege happened in Cooch Behar?
The CPI(M) alleged that BJP workers attacked and vandalised its party office in the Jorpatki area of Mathabhanga No. I Block, Cooch Behar, on Saturday night. The alleged attack reportedly occurred hours after CPI(M) workers had locked up the office and returned home following a protest march.
What were the demands of the CPI(M) protest march?
The march in Golakganj Bazar demanded the removal and 'punishment' of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, immediate inclusion of valid voters in electoral rolls, ₹3,000 per month payments to women, registration under the Annapurna Yojana for eligible beneficiaries, and control over rising prices of essential commodities.
Has the BJP accepted any responsibility for the alleged attack?
No. BJP district committee member Rajib Sarkar denied any involvement, saying 'no one from the BJP is involved in this incident' and describing the allegations as 'wild.' He also argued that the BJP would not have waited five months after forming the government to vandalize an opposition office.
What action has the police taken?
As of Sunday, police confirmed that no written complaint had been filed regarding the alleged attack or vandalism. Authorities said an investigation would be initiated once a formal complaint is received. CPI(M) district member Moksedul Islam stated the party intends to file one.
Why is the protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar significant?
The CPI(M) and several opposition parties have been demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing concerns about electoral integrity. Protests across various locations in West Bengal and elsewhere have been held as part of this campaign, making the Cooch Behar march part of a wider political movement rather than an isolated local event.
