‘Dom Lady Upa Pradhan Dur Hato’: Dalit Panchayat Leader Alleges Caste Abuse, Confinement and Egg Attack by BJP Workers in Bengal
Rekha Mallick, a Scheduled Caste woman and Upa Pradhan of Matigara-I Gram Panchayat in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, has alleged that a group of BJP workers forcibly entered the Panchayat office, confined her, subjected her to caste-based abuse, physically assaulted her and threw an egg at her face after she refused to resign from her elected post.
In a written complaint submitted to the N.B.M.C. & H. Police Out Post on September 19, Mallick identified herself as belonging to the Dom Scheduled Caste community and said she holds a valid Scheduled Caste certificate issued by the SDO, Siliguri. She has sought registration of an FIR under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
‘Dom Lady Upa Pradhan Dur Hato’
Mallick alleged that local BJP leaders and workers had been targeting her since the West Bengal Assembly election, repeatedly abusing her and referring to her caste.
According to her complaint, they questioned how she could become a Panchayat member and Upa Pradhan while belonging to the Dom community and allegedly told her that the post was “not fit for a Dom lady.” She also alleged that she was threatened with false criminal and civil cases if she refused to resign.
Speaking to Bahujan Lives Matter, Mallick said the confrontation began when BJP workers entered the Panchayat office during a General Body Meeting. “They entered and removed everyone from the meeting. They removed all the Panchayat members and the office staff,” Mallick said.
She alleged that she, the Pradhan and another Panchayat member were then kept inside the office while the others were forced out. Her written complaint gives a more detailed account, naming Pradip Debnath, Iru Sarkar, Mampi Sarkar, Alok Kundu, Arjun Singha, Rabi Roy and Bikash Barman, along with around 15–20 other alleged BJP workers. According to Mallick, the protesters shouted, “Dom lady UPA PRADHAN dur hato.”
‘I Am an Elected Representative, Why Should I Resign?’
Mallick said the group demanded that she, the Panchayat Pradhan and another member resign. “I said I will not resign. Give me some time, I will think about it,” she told Bahujan Lives Matter.
She said she refused because she had been elected by the people. “I am an elected representative of the people. The people voted for me. I have done nothing wrong, so why should I resign?”
According to her, the confrontation continued for several hours, from around 4–4.30 p.m. until approximately 8 p.m. Her complaint states that she, the Pradhan and another Panchayat member were gheraoed inside a room, while the main gate of the Panchayat office was locked.
Egg Thrown at Her Face
Mallick alleged that the physical confrontation escalated after she refused to resign. “They were insisting that we resign. When we refused, they threw eggs at me,” she told Bahujan Lives Matter.
Her written complaint alleges that one of the people involved “threw an egg with force” at her face, causing what she described as a severe injury to her right eye and the surrounding area. She also alleged that eggs were thrown at Panchayat Pradhan Krishna Sarkar and Panchayat member Biswajit Sarkar.
Mallick said the incident occurred on a Tuesday and that she had been observing a Tuesday fast. “I told them, today is Tuesday and I am fasting. You are Hindus and I am also Hindu. Why are you throwing eggs at me?” She further alleged that the people present were raising “Jai Shri Ram” slogans while the eggs were being thrown.
‘Dom Ki Larki… Kursi Chhoro’
According to the complaint, the alleged caste-based humiliation did not end inside the Panchayat office.
Mallick alleged that after she left the office, the group followed her while she walked home and shouted, “Dom Ki Larki Jaldi UPA Pradhan Ka Kursi Chhoro” and “Dom Jat Chi Chi.” She alleged that the slogans were raised in public view and hearing and that the group followed her until she reached her home.
The complaint also states that the alleged attackers repeatedly used her “Dom” caste name during the confrontation inside the Panchayat office.
‘They Pushed and Physically Attacked Me’
Mallick told Bahujan Lives Matter that she was also physically harassed during the confrontation. “They personally attacked me. They pushed me and manhandled me,” she said.
Her complaint similarly alleges that she was repeatedly pushed and assaulted, causing severe pain, while the group continued pressuring her to resign. She alleged that she was kept inside the office until around 8 p.m. without being allowed to take water or use the washroom.
At around 8 p.m., according to her complaint, the protesters compelled Panchayat Pradhan Krishna Sarkar to sign a paper before allowing the three to leave the office.
Hospitalised for Three Days
After reaching home, Mallick said her condition deteriorated. “My eye was affected after they threw the egg at me. I went to emergency that night,” she told Bahujan Lives Matter.
Her written complaint states that her right eye became severely swollen and her vision began to deteriorate. Her younger son subsequently took her to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, where she was admitted for treatment.
The complaint states that she was discharged from the hospital on September 18, 2026. She attached copies of her medical treatment and hospital discharge documents to her police complaint.
‘Police Did Not Take My Case’
Mallick also alleged that she initially approached the police to register a case but that her complaint was not accepted. “I went to the police station to file the case, but the police did not take my case,” she told Bahujan Lives Matter.
She said she subsequently sent complaints by email to the authorities and sought action under the SC/ST Act. At the time of her interview, she said she had not received confirmation of an FIR.
Her written complaint, dated September 19, formally requests registration of a criminal case under the BNS and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with investigation and immediate protection.
Copies of the complaint were sent to the National Commission for Women, Sub-Divisional Officer, Siliguri, and the Block Development Officer, Matigara.
‘I Am Being Threatened to Withdraw the Case’
Mallick further alleged that she has received threats following the incident. “I am getting many kinds of threats. I am being threatened to withdraw my case,” she told Bahujan Lives Matter.
She said she was particularly concerned about what could happen if the alleged violence escalated. “Today they have thrown an egg. Tomorrow they may throw something else. What guarantee is there that they will not throw a bomb?”
BJP Leaders Named in Complaint
Mallick’s written complaint names Pradip Debnath, identified by her as BJP Matigara Mandal Sabhapati; Iru Sarkar, identified as a BJP Mahila Morcha leader; Mampi Sarkar; Alok Kundu; Arjun Singha; Rabi Roy; and Bikash Barman. It also refers to around 15–20 other BJP workers.
In her interview, Mallick specifically named several people whom she alleged were involved in the confrontation and identified Bikash Barman as one of those who threw eggs at her.
The allegations against the named individuals have not been independently established, and their responses to the allegations should be sought.
