Guwahati, April 12: Abhishek Banerjee has criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party over its handling of the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, highlighting the death of a BSF constable from West Bengal.
Constable Mithun Mandal, a resident of Malda district, died on April 10 after being shot by militants during a patrol in Ukhrul district. According to officials, he was hit by a bullet around 4:30 pm from an unidentified source. He was rushed to a hospital in Imphal but succumbed to his injuries by 6 pm. Mandal, who was serving with the 170 Battalion of the Border Security Force, is survived by his wife and children.
In a social media post, Banerjee, who is also the national general secretary of the All India Trinamool Congress, paid tribute to the slain jawan while questioning the Centre’s response to the prolonged unrest in Manipur. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of focusing on election campaigning in West Bengal instead of addressing the situation in Manipur.
Banerjee alleged that despite the violence continuing for nearly three years, there has been insufficient high-level intervention to restore lasting peace. The conflict, which began in 2023 between Meitei and Kuki communities, has resulted in nearly 300 deaths and displaced tens of thousands of people.
He urged the central leadership to prioritise meaningful action in Manipur before seeking political gains elsewhere, particularly in the run-up to the West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled for April 23 and 29, with counting set for May 4.
The remarks have added to the ongoing political debate over the Centre’s handling of the situation in Manipur, even as security challenges persist in the state.
