Daijiworld Media Network - Siliguri

Siliguri, Feb 26: Tensions flared in Siliguri on Thursday as members of the tribal community staged a massive protest following the alleged assault of a pregnant woman by a civic volunteer, an incident that reportedly led to the death of her unborn child.

The demonstrators marched towards ‘Uttarkanya’, the branch secretariat of the West Bengal government in north Bengal, demanding justice. As protesters attempted to breach police barricades, clashes broke out between them and security personnel.

Police resorted to tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse the crowd after the situation turned volatile. A heavy police deployment was made in the area, and officials later confirmed that the situation had been brought under control.

According to police and local sources, the controversy traces back to a land acquisition dispute in Phansidewa near Siliguri about a month ago. During that unrest, a civic volunteer allegedly assaulted the pregnant woman. The accused, identified as Mohammad Kader, was subsequently arrested, though four other individuals linked to the incident are reportedly still untraceable.

The woman’s recent loss of her unborn child intensified anger within the tribal community, triggering Thursday’s agitation. Protesters demanded strict punishment for the accused and swift action against others allegedly involved.

A senior officer of the Siliguri Police Commissionerate said the protest continued for some time before being brought under control.
The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also condemned the incident and called for exemplary punishment. In a statement, the party described the protest march as tense, alleging scuffles between demonstrators and police involving baton charges, water cannons and tear gas. It warned that the agitation would continue if justice was not delivered.