The police in Balurghat have arrested two Trinamul workers in connection with the atonement ritual that four tribal women were allegedly forced to perform before being re-inducted into the party.

The women, who deserted Trinamul for the BJP, had to perform the ritual of “dandi” along a 1km stretch on a Balurghat road.

Biswanath Das and Ananda Roy, both associated with Trinamul, were present when the women performed the ritual, police said.

“They have been arrested on the basis of the statements given by these women before a judge in court. During probe, it was found that they had forced the tribal women to perform the ritual,” said a source in the district police.

Biswanath, sources said, is the personal assistant of Pradipta Chakraborty, then the district chief of Trinamul’s women’s wing. After the incident, she was removed from the post, but is still the vice-chairperson of Balurghat municipality. There were reports that Chakraborty took credit to bring back the four tribal women into the party.

Ananda is a casual worker at the local civic body and general secretary of Balurghat town block Youth Trinamul.

“Charges under certain sections of IPC and the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have been brought against them. On Thursday, they were produced in a local court and sent in judicial custody for four days,” said Sajal Ghosh, a government lawyer.

Representatives of tribal organisations and the BJP termed these arrests as a police bid to “shield the principal accused", indicating but not naming Chakraborty.

“Everybody knows who is the principal accused, but the person has not been arrested. We are not satisfied... and may call a statewide strike next week,” said Bibhuti Tudu, vice-president of north Bengal zone of the Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan, an association of tribals.

Swarup Choudhury, the South Dinajpur district BJP president, said: "Police are acting at the behest of Trinamul and not arresting the principal accused. We have launched a movement to protest this atrocious incident and if the accused is not arrested, we will intensify it across the district."

District Trinamul leaders said the law would take its course.

“Among those arrested, one holds a post in our party. We will remove him from the post. The police are doing their job,” said district Trinamul chief Mrinal Sarkar.