Pregnant woman allegedly beaten at mediation meet in Bengal's Dinhata; BJP denies
Synopsis
In Dinhata, Cooch Behar, a four-month pregnant woman was allegedly assaulted by a BJP panchayat member's husband at a mediation meeting — the second such incident involving a pregnant woman in the same area within a week. The earlier case ended in a stillbirth, and both have set off political tremors in Bengal.
Key Takeaways
A four-month pregnant woman was allegedly beaten at a mediation meeting in a village under Dinhata police station , Cooch Behar , on 7 November 2026 .
The accused include Bhabasindhu Barman , husband of BJP panchayat member Bina Barman , and his associates.
The victim is receiving treatment at Dinhata Sub-District Hospital ; a case has been registered and investigation is underway.
The BJP has denied the allegations, calling them 'baseless.' A week earlier, an eight-month pregnant woman in the same Dinhata area was allegedly attacked by BJP workers; she later delivered a stillborn child.
In that prior case, two of eight accused have been arrested; the rest are reportedly absconding.
A four-month pregnant woman was allegedly assaulted at a mediation meeting in a village under the Dinhata police station area of Cooch Behar district, West Bengal, on Saturday, 7 November 2026. The accused include the husband of a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) panchayat member and his associates, according to police. The BJP has denied the allegations.
What the Victim Said
The victim, currently undergoing treatment at Dinhata Sub-District Hospital, told reporters that local panchayat member Bina Barman's husband Bhabasindhu Barman and his associates assaulted her husband during the gathering. 'When I went to save him, they beat me too. Then I was admitted to the Dinhata Sub-district Hospital at night. A USG was done in the afternoon,' she said.
The victim's family filed a formal complaint with Dinhata police station on Friday afternoon against several individuals, including the BJP panchayat member.
Police Response and Investigation
A Cooch Behar district police official confirmed that an investigation has been initiated following receipt of the complaint. 'The victim was spoken to and she is undergoing treatment at a hospital. Everything is being investigated. A case has been lodged and investigation has begun,' the officer said.
BJP Denies Allegations
The BJP's mandal president of Sitai Assembly constituency, Shanku Sarkar, rejected the charges. According to Sarkar, 'As far as I have heard, there was a mediation meeting at the house of that panchayat member in a case of extramarital affairs. Two more BJP gram panchayat members were present there. Discussions were held. However, no beating took place. Baseless allegations are being made.'
Second Such Incident in Dinhata Within a Week
This incident follows a similarly disturbing episode just a week earlier, in which the brother-in-law of an All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) panchayat member and his eight-month pregnant wife were allegedly attacked by BJP leaders and workers in Kuchni village of Barashakdal gram panchayat in Dinhata. The woman subsequently gave birth to a stillborn child at Dinhata Sub-District Hospital. A complaint was filed against eight people in that case; two have been arrested by Sahebganj police station, while the remaining accused are reportedly absconding.
The back-to-back incidents have triggered considerable unease in political circles in Cooch Behar, drawing attention to a pattern of alleged violence connected to panchayat-level political rivalries in the region. With the investigation ongoing, authorities are yet to make any arrest in the latest case.
Point of View
The slow pace of arrests in the earlier stillbirth case, and the reflexive denials from party leaders all point to a political culture where local power structures override basic legal accountability. West Bengal's administration cannot afford to treat these as isolated law-and-order episodes; the question is whether the state machinery will act with the urgency the evidence demands, or allow political affiliations to slow-walk justice once again.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the pregnant woman in Dinhata, Cooch Behar?
A four-month pregnant woman was allegedly assaulted at a mediation meeting in a village under Dinhata police station, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, on 7 November 2026. She told reporters that Bhabasindhu Barman, husband of BJP panchayat member Bina Barman, and his associates beat her husband, and then beat her when she intervened. She is currently receiving treatment at Dinhata Sub-District Hospital.
What is the BJP's response to the allegations?
The BJP has denied all allegations. Shanku Sarkar, the BJP mandal president of Sitai Assembly constituency, said the meeting concerned a case of extramarital affairs, that discussions were held, and that 'no beating took place,' dismissing the charges as 'baseless.'
What action has the police taken in the Dinhata case?
Cooch Behar district police confirmed that a case has been registered following a complaint filed by the victim's family on Friday afternoon. The victim has been spoken to by investigators, and an investigation is underway. No arrests have been reported as of 7 November 2026.
Is this the first such incident in Dinhata involving a pregnant woman?
No. Just a week before this incident, an eight-month pregnant woman and her husband's brother-in-law were allegedly attacked by BJP leaders and workers in Kuchni village of Barashakdal gram panchayat in Dinhata. The woman subsequently gave birth to a stillborn child at Dinhata Sub-District Hospital. Of the eight accused in that case, two have been arrested and the rest are reportedly absconding.
Who are the main accused in the Dinhata pregnant woman assault case?
The main accused, according to the victim and police complaint, is Bhabasindhu Barman, husband of local BJP panchayat member Bina Barman, along with his associates. A formal complaint has been filed at Dinhata police station.
