Was Suvendu Adhikari's Convoy Targeted in Cooch Behar?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Suvendu Adhikari's convoy was attacked by Trinamool Congress activists in Cooch Behar.
- The incident highlights the tension in West Bengal politics.
- The BJP condemns the attack as pre-planned.
- Statewide protests are expected from the BJP.
- The situation raises concerns about political safety in the region.
Kolkata, Aug 5 (NationPress) The convoy of Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, faced an attack on Tuesday in Cooch Behar town situated in North Bengal. This incident occurred as he arrived to engage in a pre-planned protest rally.
Accompanied by 65 fellow party legislators, Adhikari was set to march towards the district police superintendent's office to present a memorandum regarding the recent assaults on elected BJP representatives in the region.
Upon reaching Khagrabari in Cooch Behar, a group of Trinamool Congress activists swiftly emerged from the sidelines, attempting to obstruct the vehicles.
Initially, they protested by displaying black flags to Adhikari. However, the situation escalated, leading to a violent attack on the convoy with bamboo sticks, iron rods, and stone-throwing. Fortunately, Adhikari was unharmed due to the bulletproof glass of his vehicle.
Concerns about potential tensions surrounding the protest rally had been prevalent, especially since the Trinamool Congress was organizing parallel events at 19 locations in Cooch Behar town at the same time.
The strategic placement of these 19 events effectively surrounded Adhikari's movement, coinciding with the state’s ruling party's activities.
In a strong condemnation of the attack, BJP state president in West Bengal and Rajya Sabha member, Samik Bhattacharya, labeled the incident as premeditated, illustrating the “nasty” political tactics employed by the Trinamool Congress.
He further stated that statewide protests would be held against this attack throughout the day.
Udayan Guha, the West Bengal Minister responsible for North Bengal Development and a Trinamool Congress legislator from Dinhata constituency in Cooch Behar district, asserted that the party's events were pre-scheduled to address attacks on the Bengali language and its speakers.
“Those who insult Bengalis will face protests across the state,” Guha declared.