CPI(M) book stall torched in West Bengal's Nadia, BJP blamed
Synopsis
A CPI(M) book stall at Nadia's Phulia, set up for the annual Sharad Mela and inaugurated just days earlier, was allegedly torched on Sunday night. With one suspect in custody and the BJP denying blame, the incident fits a pattern the CPI(M) claims is part of a coordinated effort to suppress its public events across West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
A CPI(M) book stall in Phulia, Nadia district was allegedly vandalised and set on fire late on Sunday night, 19 October 2026 .
The stall was set up for the annual Sharad Mela and inaugurated on 16 October ; photographs of scholars, book stands, and benches were destroyed.
CPI(M) has accused the BJP of carrying out the attack; the BJP has denied the allegation.
One suspect was apprehended by CPI(M) workers and handed to police; a second suspect allegedly fled.
The CPI(M) alleges similar attacks on its stalls across Kolkata , Howrah , and Hooghly , calling this part of a wider pattern.
A complaint has been filed with Santipur police station ; the investigation is ongoing and no charges have been established.
A book stall set up by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in the Phulia area of West Bengal's Nadia district was allegedly vandalised and set ablaze late on Sunday night, police confirmed on Monday, 19 October 2026. The CPI(M) has squarely blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the attack — an allegation the ruling party has denied.
What Happened at the Site
The stall, located near Phulia Rangamancha on Phulia-Taherpur Road, had been set up for the annual Sharad Mela and was inaugurated on 16 October. According to party workers, photographs of scholars, book stands, and seating benches were vandalised before the entire structure was set on fire.
Following the incident, CPI(M) workers reached the spot and detained one person on suspicion of involvement, handing him over to the police. A second suspect allegedly fled the scene. A formal complaint has been lodged with Santipur police station.
A Pattern of Alleged Targeting
This incident is not isolated, according to the CPI(M). The party has cited similar alleged attacks on its book stalls in several parts of West Bengal, including Kolkata, its suburbs, Howrah, and Hooghly. The Phulia stall itself had reportedly faced resistance even before it opened, with CPI(M) workers claiming that BJP supporters put up banners and posters at the location where the party has operated its stall for several years, forcing it to shift the setup 50 to 60 metres away from its usual site.
Administrative Action and the CPI(M)'s Defence
The CPI(M) further alleged that local administration ordered the stall demolished just a day after its inauguration. The party maintained, however, that it had followed due procedure — consulting the police administration, securing permission from the fair organising committee, and holding prior discussions with the sub-divisional magistrate. The sequence of events, if confirmed, suggests the stall's presence was contested at multiple levels before the fire.
BJP Denial and Police Probe
The BJP has denied involvement in the alleged vandalism and arson. Police are currently examining the complaint and the circumstances of the incident. Notably, the allegations against the BJP have not been independently verified. The detained suspect remains in police custody as the investigation continues.
Political Backdrop
The incident reflects the broader and long-running political friction between the CPI(M) and BJP in West Bengal, where electoral ground-level confrontations have frequently spilled into reports of physical clashes and property damage. The CPI(M), once the dominant political force in the state, has seen its footprint shrink significantly, making its public events like Sharad Mela stalls symbolically significant for the party's organisational outreach. Any disruption of such events carries heightened political sensitivity.
Police have said they are looking into the matter, and further developments are expected as the investigation unfolds.
Point of View
And the pattern the CPI(M) describes — pre-emptive banner occupation, administrative pressure, and finally arson — is a recognisable playbook. What is notable here is the procedural care the CPI(M) claims to have exercised: police consultation, SDM discussions, fair committee approval. If those steps were indeed taken and the stall was still demolished and burned, it raises questions about whether state machinery and street-level aggression are operating in tandem. The BJP's blanket denial without a counter-account does little to clarify the record, and the police probe will be the real test of institutional credibility in Nadia.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the CPI(M) book stall in Nadia's Phulia?
The CPI(M) book stall set up near Phulia Rangamancha for the annual Sharad Mela was allegedly vandalised and set on fire late on Sunday night. Photographs of scholars, book stands, and benches were destroyed in the attack, according to party workers.
Who does the CPI(M) blame for the attack?
The CPI(M) has accused the BJP of being responsible for the arson and vandalism. The BJP has denied the allegation, and the claims have not been independently verified. Police are currently investigating the complaint lodged with Santipur police station.
Has anyone been arrested in connection with the Phulia book stall fire?
One person was detained at the scene by CPI(M) workers on suspicion of involvement and was handed over to the police. A second suspect allegedly fled. No formal arrests or charges have been publicly confirmed yet.
Is this an isolated incident or part of a wider pattern?
The CPI(M) says this is part of a broader pattern of attacks on its book stalls across West Bengal, citing similar incidents in Kolkata, Howrah, and Hooghly. The party also alleged that attempts to obstruct the Phulia stall began before it was even inaugurated on 16 October.
Did the CPI(M) have official permission to set up the stall?
Yes, according to the CPI(M). The party says it consulted the police administration, secured permission from the fair organising committee, and held discussions with the sub-divisional magistrate before setting up the stall. Despite this, the party alleges the administration ordered its demolition a day after inauguration.
