Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary Mohammed Salim, against whom the Kolkata police have filed an FIR along with the BJP’s Amit Malviya for sharing a video of a woman being beaten, alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is employing the same tactics that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah used in the aftermath of the Gujarat riots to silence the truth.
The purported video shows a Trinamool Congress leader in Chopra of North Dinajpur district beating up a woman in a kangaroo court. In the case against Salim, it was the woman who was being beaten who filed a police complaint, The Wire reported.
Salim alleged that the complaint against him was the result of police pressure on the woman, as part of a playbook similar to that of the RSS when Narendra Modi and Amit Shah used the victims of the Gujarat riots to file cases against activist Teesta Setalvad, who stood up for the rights of the victims.
The video, which surfaced on social media, shows TMC leader Tajimul Haque assaulting a woman in what appears to be a kangaroo court setting. The video, purportedly recorded on June 28, led to nationwide outrage. Haque, who has earned the nickname ‘JCB’ for his notorious methods, was arrested following a suo motu police case but was quickly granted bail.
Mohammed Salim, who shared the video on social media, accused the state government of using the police to silence dissent. He drew parallels between the current situation and the aftermath of the Gujarat riots, where activists faced legal repercussions for their advocacy.
Salim claimed that the woman in the video was coerced into filing a complaint against him, alleging defamation for sharing the footage without her consent.
The FIR against Salim includes charges under sections 79, 294, and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, as well as sections 66A, 66B, and 67A of the Information Technology Act. The complaint, reportedly filed on July 1, states that the woman felt defamed by the video's circulation. Notably, the complaint omits any reference to the physical assault shown in the video.
Salim has been vocal about what he describes as political hooliganism under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's rule. He accused the state police of acting on direct orders from Banerjee, who also serves as the state home minister. According to Salim, this move is a calculated attempt to use fear tactics to stifle opposition voices and suppress the truth about political violence in West Bengal.
Haque's influence in the Chopra area is significant, with locals living in fear of his retribution, according to The Wire. Just a week before the current incident, another couple was reportedly beaten by Haque over similar allegations of adultery. Despite these acts being carried out publicly, residents are hesitant to speak out due to fear of consequences.