Crackdown exposes political tension and alleged protection for illegal trade
Tension erupted in West Bengal’s Purulia town after a confrontation between a BJP worker and a party MLA during an ongoing crackdown on illegal sand mining in the region. Police have arrested 19 individuals allegedly involved in the unlawful extraction of sand from local riverbeds.
According to police sources, the arrests followed a late-night operation on Wednesday, during which officers intercepted two overloaded tractors carrying illegally mined sand. BJP worker Suraj Sharma reportedly led a protest against the vehicles, accusing local authorities of turning a blind eye to the illegal trade under alleged “police and political protection.”
The situation quickly spiralled when Sharma got into a heated argument with Purulia BJP MLA Sudip Mukherjee at the local police station. Eyewitnesses said the altercation turned physical, and a video of the clash has since gone viral on social media, drawing sharp reactions from both party members and residents.
Following the incident, police intensified their drive against illegal sand mining across the district and detained 19 accused traders. All the arrested individuals were presented before the Purulia District Court on Friday.
Party insiders said the confrontation has highlighted growing internal divisions within the BJP’s Purulia unit. Senior state leaders are reportedly planning to step in to defuse tensions and restore unity ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
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