Bengal woman commits suicide after being thrashed over suspected extramarital affair

Allegations against Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders

Kolkata – A few days ago, a married Muslim woman and her boyfriend were brutally thrashed by a local TMC worker Tajmul Islam on the street in North Dinajpur in West Bengal. After this incident came to light, another similar incident came to light from West Bengal. A woman committed suicide on 29^thJune in Phulbari village of Jalpaiguri District in West Bengal. Eyewitnesses say that the woman was beaten up over the suspicion of having an extra-marital affair. It is being alleged that she committed suicide due to mental pressure after being beaten up publicly. 4 individuals have been arrested in this case.

1. The woman’s husband alleged that his wife committed suicide by drinking poison. He said, ‘Some villagers flogged her right in front of the Panchayat. I have filed a Police complaint in this regard. I have told them that my wife could not bear the shock of being called and beaten up by the women of the village in front of the Panchayat. She committed suicide under that pressure’.

2. It was alleged that the woman had an extramarital affair with a young man and had been missing from her home for 10 days. During her absence, her husband filed a missing person complaint. She was found on 29^thJune and was called back to the village.

3. The woman’s husband reported that the Panchayat head and TMC leader Malati Roy, along with her husband Shankar Roy, called his wife to a meeting. When they arrived, supporters of the Roys allegedly attacked both him and his wife.

4. Malati and Shankar Roy denied these allegations. Shankar Roy told that the couple had intended to file a Police complaint but chose to go to the Panchayat instead. He mentioned that the woman had previously eloped with another man, which might have prompted their neighbours to beat her. He claimed they were not present during the incident and only arrived when the meeting was underway, adding that the woman excused herself to go to the washroom, and they later discovered she had ingested acid.

Editorial Perspective

What public interest are the politicians serving who are being negligent about West Bengal while it is evident from several incidents that there is a need for President’s Rule in the State ?