Kolkata
Social Media Videos Show Man Paraded After Extortion Claims in Bengal Village
Tensions flared in a village in West Bengal’s Howrah district after residents allegedly accused a local Trinamool Congress leader of extorting money from beneficiaries of government welfare schemes. The incident led to public humiliation of the accused, raising concerns over both alleged corruption and vigilante-style actions.
A controversy has erupted in Howrah district after a man identified as Sannashi Manna, who is reportedly associated with the All India Trinamool Congress, was allegedly tonsured, garlanded with shoes, and paraded through a village by local residents.
According to villagers from Amardaha, Manna had allegedly been collecting money from residents seeking benefits under various government welfare schemes. Locals claimed that beneficiaries were forced to pay in order to access entitlements meant to be provided without unofficial charges.
Residents further alleged that several Aadhaar cards and job cards linked to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act programme were recovered from the accused’s residence. The allegations have not yet been independently verified by authorities.
Videos circulating on social media purportedly show villagers shaving the man’s head and garlanding him with shoes before parading him through the village. The footage has drawn widespread attention and sparked debate over allegations of corruption as well as the use of public humiliation as a form of punishment.
Authorities are expected to investigate both the allegations of extortion and the circumstances surrounding the public humiliation. Officials have urged citizens to report grievances through legal channels and allow law enforcement agencies to conduct impartial inquiries.
The incident highlights growing public anger over alleged irregularities in welfare distribution while also underscoring the importance of due process and lawful enforcement in addressing such complaints.
