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ISLAMABAD: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing fresh allegations of post-election intimidation in West Bengal after Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders accused BJP-backed groups of burning homes and shops following the party&rsquo;s historic victory in the state. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee shared footage on X alleging that &ldquo;BJP-backed miscreants&rdquo; had set fire to the homes of party workers in the chief minister&rsquo;s district, leaving families devastated. The post added to a growing stream of claims that opposition supporters were being targeted after the BJP&rsquo;s takeover of the state. The allegations escalated after TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee accused BJP-linked attackers of torching more than 60 shops at Hijli Sharif in Khejuri&rsquo;s Nichkasba gram panchayat area in East Midnapore.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2053341938557079827&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a029064d74d2d3de9d512fab3e7fd84dd04700de&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 723px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>UNI reported that the shops belonged to both Hindu and Muslim owners, with Banerjee calling the incident an attempt to spread fear among ordinary people. The Statesman also reported Banerjee&rsquo;s accusation that the Khejuri attack was aimed at disrupting Bengal&rsquo;s social harmony. The BJP has denied involvement and sought an investigation, while the fire has become a flashpoint in the wider post-poll crisis. The violence has undercut BJP claims that its victory would bring stability to West Bengal. Reuters reported that hundreds of people were arrested after post-election violence killed at least three people, including an aide to a senior BJP leader. The Guardian reported that tensions remained high after more than 200 criminal cases and 433 arrests were recorded amid the unrest. The violence followed the BJP&rsquo;s defeat of Mamata Banerjee&rsquo;s long-ruling TMC, a result that expanded the party&rsquo;s dominance across much of India. The spread of arson, political killings and communal fears has cast a harsh light on India&rsquo;s ruling party and the political climate it has helped create.

India

BJP faces allegations of post-election intimidation in West Bengal after TMC leaders accused BJP-backed groups of arson, as wider unrest killed several people and triggered hundreds of arrests.

Articles tagged with "Intimidation"

BJP accused of arson as post-poll violence spreads in West Bengal

BJP accused of arson as post-poll violence spreads in West Bengal