Handcuffed, Roped TMC Leaders Paraded Through Strongholds After Arrest; BJP Says It's 'Ram Rajya'

Published 18 June 2026 · politics

Handcuffed, Roped TMC Leaders Paraded Through Strongholds After Arrest; BJP Says It's 'Ram Rajya' Published By, Last Updated: June 18, 2026, 09:35 IST Some of

Handcuffed, Roped TMC Leaders Paraded Through Strongholds After Arrest; BJP Says It's 'Ram Rajya' Published By, Last Updated: June 18, 2026, 09:35 IST Some of the TMC leaders were just seen wearing underclothes, handcuffs and a rope which was tied around their waist like a leash. TMC leaders Jahangir Khan and Shamim Ahmed being paraded in West Bengal. (Source: X) Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Jahangir Khan, who was arrested by the West Bengal police nine days ago, has been paraded three times in his stronghold constituency, Falta. In retaliation, Khan’s supporters – led by his wife – have been carrying out protests and have also tried to storm a police station to free the TMC leader. Jahangir Khan is not the only leader who has been paraded after his arrest. With the turning of the political tide in West Bengal, several TMC leaders, along with their associates, have been paraded in their strongholds in public by either police or paramilitary forces. Some of these TMC leaders were just seen wearing underclothes, handcuffs and a rope which was tied around their waist like a leash, according to The Indian Express. In some of the viral videos, the leaders were seen holding their ears in a squatting position and publicly apologising as they were paraded. ‘Don’t Deliberately Defame Or Humiliate’: Court After one such public parading, a vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court took exception to the incident and sought a report from the state government on the circumstances and legal provisions under which it occurred. While acknowledging that individuals could be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law, the court observed that they could not be deliberately defamed or subjected to public humiliation. Also Read: ‘Khela Hobe…’: TMC Crisis Deepens As Rebel MPs Seek Control Of Party Symbol, Name Defending their actions, the police said that it was purely “investigative" and meant for “reconstruction of crime scenes". According to a senior IPS officer, the police were treading a thin line, The Indian Express reported. “Except in some cases where charges are very serious like terrorism, or there is a threat that an accused may abscond, even handcuffing is not done.

As for tying a rope around the waist and parading an accused, it has no basis in law," the officer said. TMC Alleges ‘Breach Of Human Rights’, BJP Calls It ‘Ram Rajya’ Meanwhile, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said the party was planning to initiate legal action against the police over the alleged public parading of its leaders. “It is a total violation of Article 21 and a breach of human rights," he said, while speaking to The Indian Express. Meanwhile, BJP Howrah Uttar MLA Umesh Rai, while speaking about TMC Akash Singh’s arrest at a public meeting, said, “There was a time when he would roam the streets with a convoy of a hundred bikes, intimidating people. Today, that same man is being paraded with a rope around his waist. This is what true Ram Rajya looks like." Which TMC Leaders Were Paraded? Akash Singh On May 13, four days after the BJP government assumed office, Akash Singh was arrested by the Golabari police in Howrah and paraded through the area with his head shaved, dressed only in a vest and underwear. Also Read: Struck By Internal Revolt, TMC’s Abhishek Jets To Delhi Friday To Meet Om Birla Known locally as the “Don of North Howrah", Akash faces nearly 20 criminal cases, including allegations of opening fire on police and injuring a sub-inspector, carrying out bomb attacks during the 2021 Assembly elections, extortion, and attempted murder. Abhijit Roy A local TMC youth leader from Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas, Roy was arrested on May 28 and paraded through the area with a rope tied around his waist as large crowds gathered and raised slogans. According to police, Roy is accused in an extortion case registered at Bijpur Police Station and also faces allegations of illegally stockpiling and reselling materials, including plastic buckets meant for municipal sanitation workers. Locals allege he wielded considerable influence during the TMC regime, with a say in the selection of beneficiaries for government schemes, the awarding of contracts, and the allocation of housing units. Police said Roy had gone into hiding after the BJP assumed power and was eventually arrested from Mandarmani in East Midnapore.