TMC accuses BJP workers of torching athlete-politician Swapna Barman's house

Asian games golden medal winning athlete and Trinamool Congress campaigner successful the West Bengal Assembly polls, Swapna Barman came nether onslaught by BJP, alleged Trinamool Congress connected Saturday (May 16, 2026). Trinamool Congress wide caput Abhishek Banerjee said that connected Friday (May 15, 2026), BJP supporters acceptable occurrence to her home.

Taking to X, Mr. Banerjee alleged that Ms. Barman was targeted by "BJP goons" due to the fact that she joined the TMC and fought the precocious concluded authorities polls connected the party's ticket.

"An jock who brought glory to the federation is being repaid with violence, intimidation and fearfulness -- simply due to the fact that she chose to basal with the Trinamool Congress," helium wrote.

The station from the TMC's wide caput -- stating "India FAILED YOU, beloved Swapna" -- came a time aft an exasperated Ms. Barman took to societal media to authorities that "joining authorities was a mistake", successful the aftermath of the alleged arson astatine her Kaliaganj location successful Uttar Dinajpur district.

On Friday, Barman had alleged that a spot owned by her, built of corrugated tin and located adjacent to the location she presently resides in, was acceptable connected occurrence by unidentified miscreants. The affected spot was inhabited by a member of the jock who, she alleged, was receiving decease threats from "unidentified goons" successful the aftermath of the May 4 declaration of Assembly canvass results.

Ms. Barman said she excessively was threatened with "dire consequences, including rape".

"Had I known this would happen, I would person ne'er joined politics. Today they acceptable my location connected fire," she aboriginal posted connected her societal media page.

Mr. Banerjee, successful his station connected X, launched a scathing onslaught connected the BJP, accusing the enactment of perpetrating the violence.

"THIS is the grim world nether @BJP4India's watch. THIS is the 'Parivartan' they promised," Mr. Banerjee said.

"The @BJP4India govt indispensable answer. This CANNOT go the caller normal. If supporting the Trinamool Congress present means risking your safety, your household and adjacent your home, WHERE ARE WE HEADED, AS A NATION? If this is however an jock who brought glory to India is treated for her governmental choices, the authorities of ideology should interest EVERY Indian," helium added.

The territory police, portion confirming the blaze and stating it was doused by the firefighting personnel, said they person launched a probe into the incident.

Ms. Barman won the historical golden medal successful the women's heptathlon astatine the 2018 Asian Games held successful Jakarta, Indonesia and created past by becoming the archetypal Indian heptathlete to execute this milestone.

She joined the TMC connected February 27 this twelvemonth and contested the Assembly elections from Rajganj successful Jalpaiguri district, but was humbled by BJP's Dinesh Sarkar with a borderline of implicit 21,000 votes.

The Rajbanshi athlete, a erstwhile worker of the North Frontier Railway successful the Alipurduar division, was dismissed from work for flouting authorities work rules, which prohibit employees from governmental involvement, aft it was recovered that she joined the TMC, without officially resigning first.

"Those who stuck to maine earlier the elections, supported maine and rooted for my victory, flipped overnight aft my enactment and I mislaid and moved to the different camp," she alleged.

State Minister Dilip Ghosh said Ms. Barman indispensable suffer the "dishonest company" she presently keeps.

"She is simply a respected jock and should enactment retired of politics. She should particularly debar the institution of those who are the worst representations of this satellite due to the fact that it doesn't suit her stature. She should basal for her state with dignity and the BJP volition beryllium lasting by her," Mr. Ghosh said.