A youth and a woman have been beaten up with sticks allegedly by a Trinamul Congress leader who went on with the assault even after they became unconscious at a salishi sabha that was convened to discuss the charge of the duo’s extramarital relationship.

Tajemul Islam, the Trinamul leader known locally as JCB, was arrested on Sunday afternoon. Police have registered a suo motu case and are probing the incident that occurred in North Dinajpur district on Friday.

A video that circulated on social media showed a man resembling Tajemul mercilessly caning the duo in the presence of a gathering which watched the “punishment” in silence.

Sources said the youth and the woman — both are married — had an extramarital affair. When the families of the two came to know about the affair, the duo were given a warning.

“However, the youth and the woman didn’t heed the warning and continued their relationship. This made their families convene a salishi sabha in the area on June 28. Tajemul, along with his associates, reached the spot. He dragged the youth and the woman and started beating them with bamboo sticks. The sticks broke, the duo lost their senses, but the Trinamool leader didn’t stop,” said a resident.

After half an hour, the Trinamool leader left the spot.

“The youth and the woman were so intimidated that none dared to file a police complaint. Such barbaric acts have to stop,” said another resident who didn’t want to
be named.

Joby Thomas, the superintendent of police of the Islampur police district, said a suo motu case had been registered based on the video. “No one has the right to take the law into his own hands. All those involved in the incident will be arrested,” said Thomas.

The police said Tajemul would be produced in court on Monday. Tajemul is said to be a close associate of Chopra TMC MLA Hamidul Rahaman.

“No one dares to confront Tajemul. He often resorted to highhandedness to teach a lesson to people but no one raised objections,” a villager said.

Rahaman said: “The salishi sabha was called to settle the issue. But whatever happened there was a bit excessive. We have rebuked those who resorted to such an act.”

Kanaialal Agarwala, the North Dinajpur district president of the TMC, said local people were aggrieved with the youth and the woman for their “relationship.”

“But we don’t support what Tajemul Islam has done. The party will conduct an inquiry against him,” he said.

The Opposition parties condemned the assault at the salishi sabha and tossed questions at chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

“Not even #Kangaroocourt. Summary trial and punishment handed out by @AITCOfficial goon nicknamed JCB. Literally bulldozer justice at Chopra under @MamataOfficial rule,” CPM state secretary Mohammad Salim posted on X.

Several BJP leaders posted the video on their X handles and questioned the TMC rule.

“This is the ugly face of Mamata Banerjee’s rule in West Bengal. The guy in the video is beating up a woman mercilessly is Tajemul, popularly known as JCB is in favour of giving quick justice through his ‘insaf’ sabha and is a close associate of Chopra MLA Hamildul Rahaman,” BJP leader Amit Malviya has written on X.