Howrah Villagers Shave TMC Leader's Head, Garland Him With Shoes Over Extortion Claims
Villagers publicly shame TMC leader over extortion allegations.
A local leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was allegedly tonsured, garlanded with shoes and paraded through a village in West Bengal's Howrah district after residents accused him of extorting money from beneficiaries of government welfare schemes. The incident took place in Amardaha village, where villagers expressed anger over alleged financial demands linked to social welfare benefits.
According to residents, the leader, identified as Sannashi Manna, had allegedly demanded money from people seeking assistance under various government welfare programmes. Villagers claimed that beneficiaries were asked to pay in exchange for accessing schemes intended to provide financial and social support to eligible residents.
The allegations intensified after locals reportedly recovered several Aadhaar cards and job cards associated with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme from Manna's house. Residents alleged that the documents were being held improperly, further fuelling suspicions of wrongdoing and prompting a strong public reaction against the local political leader.
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Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed Manna with his head shaved and a garland of shoes around his neck while being led through the village by a crowd of residents. However, the authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified. The visuals nevertheless attracted attention online and sparked discussion about the allegations raised by villagers.
Police intervened after the situation escalated and rescued Manna from the crowd. A police officer said authorities had brought the situation under control and that an investigation would be conducted into the allegations made by local residents. No formal complaint had been lodged against Manna at the time of reporting, officials said.
The incident comes amid recurring public protests and expressions of anger against local political leaders in parts of West Bengal. While the allegations against Manna are yet to be verified through an official investigation, the episode has highlighted growing concerns among some residents over the implementation of welfare schemes and the handling of benefits intended for vulnerable sections of society.
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