Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman has once again been assaulted, allegedly by BJP activists. On Friday while Roy Barman along with some other senior Congress leaders were being taken to detention centre after they tried to hold a meeting in Ranirbazar defying police restriction and without proper permission , allegedly some BJP workers began stone pelting at his vehicle. As bricks came raining down Roy Barman and two others were hit on head. Profusely bleeding the Congress MLA and another Congress worker Sushanta Chakrabarty were immediately taken to GB Hospital where he was admitted.
Once considered a formidable Congress leader Roy Barman seemed to have of late become a ready target for the physical assault by the rivals as they kept on attacking him physically with impunity.
After the incident tension swept Ranirbazar and other areas with Congress workers agitating and at night putting up a sit in demonstration in front of Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha’s residence demanding immediate arrest of the assailants.
Congress leader Ashis Saha who was all along with Roy Barman said, the party had given prior intimation to police for organizing Bharat Jodo movement from Ranirbazar to Jirania. But the police said the Congress was denied of the permission of Padayatra and other related activities citing BJP programme on 8 August and then for the ensuing Independence Day programme in which security arrangements as well as deployment of police personnel would be hectic and the proposed programme might create difficulties.
Nevertheless , as the Congress was adamant and they went ahead with the programme on Friday police stopped them. Argument between Roy Barman and SDPO Jirania ensued and ultimately the Congress leaders were detained when they sat on the road.
It was when the detained Congress leaders were being taken to detention centre by the police the assailants , allegedly BJP activists, who had by time gathered in large number in the vicinity and road side began brickbatting at the Roy Barman’s vehicle.
“The incident took place in front of police but they acted in a partisan manner and did not take any action,” said Congress leader Asish Saha.
Pradesh Congress president Birajit Sinha in a video message condemned the attack and demanded immediate arrest of the assailants.
Senior police officials said Congress did not have any permission for the programme and they denied that stone pelting was done on the vehicles that were transporting the Congress leaders. They said the brickbatting was committed on Roy Barman’s private car.
They said police is looking into the matter and culprits would be arrested soon.
