West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday visited BJP MP Khagen Murmu at a private hospital in Siliguri, where he is receiving treatment for facial injuries sustained during an assault in north Bengal’s flood- and landslide-affected areas of Nagrakata. The incident occurred on Monday while Murmu, representing Maldaha Uttar, and BJP MLA Sankar Ghosh were engaging with residents in disaster-hit zones.
Television footage showed Banerjee entering the hospital and interacting with the medical team. TMC sources stated that she assured Murmu of all necessary support from the state government. Speaking to reporters, Banerjee said, “I have received all inputs. He has high blood sugar. It needs to be controlled. I also wished him well and a speedy recovery.”
The attack has intensified political tensions in the state. BJP leaders allege that the TMC orchestrated the assault to intimidate opposition members during relief work, while the Trinamool contends that BJP leaders were using the disaster for political photo opportunities. Videos of the incident show Murmu with blood streaming from his nose, and the windshield of the BJP leaders’ car was shattered. MLA Shankar Ghosh suffered minor injuries, and his clothes were torn during the attack.
Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari sharply criticized Banerjee, accusing her of being in “panic mode” following public backlash over her earlier celebrations during the floods. He alleged that the TMC had deployed “goons” to prevent BJP MPs and MLAs from assisting the flood-affected population.
Over the past 48 hours, torrential rainfall has caused severe flooding and landslides across Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar districts. Nagrakata in the Dooars and Mirik in Darjeeling are among the worst-affected areas, with the disaster claiming at least 24 lives so far.
