Tension mounts in Karimganj after priest of Town Kalibari assaulted by unsuccessful Congress candidate of Ward 12

March 9: In an unfortunate turn of events, Congress candidate of Ward No 12 in Karimganj, Ashish Das Purkayastha (Sona), who lost the Municipal polls on Wednesday was alleged to have physically assaulted the priest of Karimganj Town Kalibari in the evening.

The moment the news spread, tension mounted in Karimganj town as large number of people gathered at Dak Bungalow Road of Karimganj and sat for protest on Wednesday night raising slogans against the defeated Congress candidate Ashish Das Purkayastha (Sona).

Elaborating about the incident, Dr Debotosh Paul Commissioner of Ward No.14 said, “The incident occurred around 9.30 PM on Wednesday. Ashish Das Purkayastha (Sona), who contested the Municipal Election in Karimganj from Ward No. 12 from Congress party lost the polls. In the night, Ashish Purkayastha suddenly entered the Town Kalibari and started threatening the priest of that temple. Sona allegedly charged the priest for canvassing against him in the Municipal polls. Sona then physically abused the priest inside the office of Town Kalibari.”

Police forces from Karimganj Police Station immediately reached the spot of protest and tried to calm the public who gathered there in large numbers. Anger gripped the local people as they regarded the incident “as a blow to their religious sentiments.” BJP supporters led by district President Subrata Bhattacharjee also joined the protest demonstration and demand stringent action by the police.

“If justice is not delivered in this incident by the administration, then from tomorrow, priests of Karimganj will refrain from performing any puja related tasks and would launch protest. Let the people of this town raise the demand of delivering justice in this issue,” said the Secretary of the Purohit’s Association of Karimganj.

Meanwhile, an FIR was also lodged against Ashish Das Purkayastha (Sona) by Gitesh Chakraborty (the victim priest) at Karimganj Police Station on Wednesday night. In the FIR, Gitesh Chakraborty stated, “I was physically assaulted by Ashish Das Purkayastha (Sona) with his shoes inside the Town Kalibari complex at around 9.30 PM on 9 March. he also threatened to kill me. This was because he believed that I was not supporting him in the recently concluded Karimganj Municipal Election which he had lost…. Furthermore, he had also threatened me with dire consequences about a week ago if I did not support him in the election.”