West Bengal polls: 'Go back' slogans greet BJP's Ratna Debnath in Panihati
Tensions flared in Panihati on 29 April as locals raised 'Go back' slogans against Ratna Debnath, the mother of the R.G. Kar Hospital rape and murder victim and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, when she arrived to assess the polling situation during the second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections. The incident added to a day already marked by sporadic violence, alleged EVM malfunctions, and high-stakes political competition across 142 constituencies in southern Bengal.
Who Is Ratna Debnath
Nearly 20 months after the rape and murder of a female doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, the victim's mother Ratna Debnath has stepped into the political arena, contesting the Assembly elections on a BJP ticket from Panihati. She has stated that her decision is driven by a demand for accountability and justice for her daughter. The R.G. Kar case triggered nationwide protests in 2024 and remains a charged political flashpoint in West Bengal.
What Debnath Alleged at the Polling Booth
Speaking to reporters about the slogans raised against her, Debnath said,
