Bengal BJP Leader Biswajit Talukdar Arrested Over Alleged Abduction, Extortion

A BJP leader has been arrested in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district for allegedly demanding extortion money from goods-laden vehicles and abducting a businessman’s son after the family failed to pay the amount, police said.

The accused, Biswajit Talukdar, is the vice-president of the BJP’s Tufanganj-4 mandal. He was arrested from his residence in Tufanganj late Friday night following a complaint filed at Boxirhat police station.

According to police, a businessman from neighbouring Alipurduar alleged that Talukdar had demanded money from him and later abducted his son when the demand was not met.

Talukdar is also accused of regularly collecting money from goods vehicles and stone-laden dumpers travelling along the national highway connecting West Bengal and Assam, officials said.

The allegations have drawn criticism from within the BJP. Local party leader Kamal Das alleged that Talukdar had been collecting money from vehicles transporting fish, poultry, betel nuts and other goods.

“We do not want such a leader who carries out extortion in the name of the party. He should be appropriately punished,” Das said.

BJP Cooch Behar district vice-president Biraj Basu said the party would take strict action against any worker found involved in unethical activities.

BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya has repeatedly warned party workers against extortion. He had recently acknowledged that the party had not been able to completely eliminate such activities.

Police said an investigation into the allegations against Talukdar is underway.