A wave of tension has swept through Malda after a 24-year-old tribal woman was allegedly subjected to an attempted rape by a local BJP worker. The incident occurred during the “Badna Parab” festivities, a significant occasion for the tribal community. The accused is a well-known political face in the village, whose wife had contested the previous Panchayat elections on a BJP ticket.

The ordeal took place last Wednesday evening when the victim visited the accused’s flour mill to grind rice for the festival. Taking advantage of the fading light at approximately 6:30 PM, the man allegedly cornered the woman and attempted to assault her sexually. Her cries for help alerted neighbors, forcing the culprit to flee the scene. Following a formal complaint lodged by the victim, the Malda police conducted a raid and apprehended the suspect. While the local BJP unit has maintained that the incident is a personal criminal matter and not a political one, the incident has sparked a massive political row in the district. The victim’s family is currently seeking justice and stringent punishment for the perpetrator.