KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL—High political drama and violence gripped the southwestern outskirts of Kolkata on Sunday, January 25, 2026. Supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clashed in the Sakherbazar area of Behala, leading to arson just weeks before the state’s high-stakes assembly elections.
The flashpoint occurred hours after former Tripura Chief Minister and BJP election co-in-charge Biplab Deb addressed a ‘Parivartan Sankalp Sabha’. Shortly after his departure, the makeshift rally stage was set on fire, sending thick plumes of smoke through the busy market area.
1. The Spark: Loudspeakers and Badminton
The conflict reportedly began over a local dispute regarding noise levels:
- The TMC Version: Behala Purba MLA Ratna Chatterjee claimed that BJP workers disrupted a 10-year-old traditional badminton tournament at a local club. She alleged that BJP supporters accosted club members and ransacked the premises because the tournament’s microphones were “too loud” for their political meeting.
- The BJP Version: BJP leaders alleged that TMC miscreants intentionally played loud music to drown out Biplab Deb’s speech. They claim that once the rally ended, a “TMC goon brigade” stormed the venue, vandalized the site, and torched the stage.
2. Arson and Vandalism
- The Fire: One fire tender was rushed to the spot to douse the flames on the gutted stage. Visuals from the scene showed charred chairs and a destroyed platform.
- Counter-Attack: TMC supporters alleged that before the stage was burned, BJP workers had vandalized the office of local TMC councillor Sudip Polley.
- Traffic Gridlock: The chaos brought vehicular movement on the crucial Diamond Harbour Road to a standstill for nearly an hour, forcing police to divert traffic through James Long Sarani.
3. War of Words: “Theatre of Terror”
The incident has triggered a fierce digital and political battle:
- Amit Malviya (BJP IT Cell): Shared videos of the fire, accusing Mamata Banerjee’s government of reducing Bengal to a “theatre of terror.”
- Sukanta Majumdar (Union Minister): Condemned the “barbaric attack,” stating that law and order in the state has reached its “nadir.”
- Ratna Chatterjee (TMC MLA): Warned that the TMC would “make its stance harder” if the BJP continued to resort to “provocative tactics.”
Fact Sheet: Behala Sakherbazar Clash (Jan 25, 2026)
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Sakherbazar Crossing, Behala, South Kolkata |
| Event | BJP ‘Parivartan Sankalp Yatra’ |
| Key Figure | Biplab Kumar Deb (Former Tripura CM) |
| MLA Involved | Ratna Chatterjee (Behala Purba – TMC) |
| Primary Trigger | Dispute over club loudspeaker volume |
| Current Status | Heavy police deployment; 1 fire tender used |