Was BJP Legislator Manoj Kumar Oraon Attacked While Assisting Flood Relief in Bengal's Alipurduar?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Manoj Kumar Oraon was attacked while distributing relief materials.
- The attack has raised concerns about the safety of political figures in humanitarian roles.
- This incident follows another violent attack on BJP leaders in the region.
- Trinamool Congress claims the attack was a local protest against Oraon's absence.
- Many supporters were injured during the incidents and are receiving medical attention.
Kolkata, Oct 7 (NationPress) Manoj Kumar Oraon, the BJP legislator representing the Kumargram constituency in West Bengal's Alipurduar district, faced an attack that was allegedly orchestrated by Trinamool Congress activists on Tuesday. This incident occurred while he was in a local village to provide relief supplies to those suffering from recent flooding.
This distressing event unfolded just a day after an assault on the vehicle of BJP Lok Sabha member Khagen Murmu and the party's Chief Whip Shankar Ghosh, who were targeted while delivering relief materials in the neighboring Jalpaiguri district.
In that previous attack, Murmu was reported to have sustained severe injuries, while Ghosh suffered minor wounds.
Both politicians are currently receiving medical care in a hospital located in Siliguri, within the Darjeeling district.
In a statement to the press, Oraon accused a group of Trinamool Congress activists of obstructing him and his team from distributing essential relief materials to the flood-affected populace.
According to BJP leader Oraon, two vehicles carrying him and his aides were damaged during the incident.
He also mentioned that his security personnel were assaulted, and there were attempts to seize their firearms.
"Numerous supporters from our party (BJP), including three women, were injured during the assault. They suffered head injuries due to stones thrown by the ruling party's supporters. They are currently receiving treatment at a local medical facility," Oraon stated.
In contrast, Prakash Chik Baraik, the Alipurduar District President of the Trinamool Congress, asserted that the incident was a spontaneous demonstration from local residents frustrated by Oraon's prolonged absence from the region.
"The local BJP legislator has been missing from the area for most of the year. His visit seemed more about publicity ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. This led to spontaneous protests from the local residents," Baraik commented.
Oraon responded, stating, "It has become common practice for leaders from the ruling party to label any attack on our (BJP's) elected officials as spontaneous public protests. They did the same in the cases involving Khagen Murmu and Shankar Ghosh."