Thu Sep 26 12:28:00 UTC 2024: ## Bihari Students Assaulted in West Bengal, Sparks Political Row
**Siliguri, West Bengal:** A video showing two young men from Bihar being allegedly assaulted by a group claiming to be police officers in Siliguri, West Bengal, has sparked a political firestorm. The incident occurred after the men, who had traveled to the state for a Staff Selection Commission (SSC) recruitment exam, were accused of forging domicile certificates.
The video, which has not been independently verified, shows the men being woken up in their room and questioned about their origin. They are then accused of being ineligible to take the exam in Bengal due to their lack of domicile. One of the men, identified as Ankit Yadav, is seen being pushed against a wall and forced to do sit-ups.
Union Ministers Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Giriraj Singh of the BJP have condemned the alleged assault and questioned the Mamata Banerjee government’s response. Paswan asked if it was a crime to take an exam in West Bengal and criticized the silence of opposition parties in Bihar, which are allies of the Trinamool Congress.
Giriraj Singh, in a tweet, pointed out the contrast between the alleged treatment of Bihari students and the welcoming of Rohingya Muslims in the state. He also alluded to the recent rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata and questioned the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens.
The West Bengal police have confirmed that one person from the video has been identified and detained.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of individuals from other states seeking opportunities in West Bengal and has further fueled the existing political tensions between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress.
First Piper 