Kolkata police detained Congress MLA Atanu Das after he led a protest that involved burning images of Baba Bageshwar, citing insult to religious sentiments and threat to public order.

  • Atanu Das arrested after burning Baba Bageshwar photos
  • Police label the act as insult to religious sentiments and public order threat
  • Other Congress leaders also booked in the case

Kolkata Police on Friday, September 11, arrested Congress leader Atanu Das for staging a protest on September 8 outside Bhawanipore police station, where he burned photographs of Baba Bageshwar (Dhirendra Krishna Shastri). The move followed a directive from Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who defended Shastri’s remarks as merely prescriptive.

According to police, protesters torched posters bearing Shastri’s image, trampled them and even slapped them with shoes. Authorities said these actions “amounted to an insult to the religious sentiments of a particular community and posed a threat to public order with the potential to incite social disharmony.”

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Alongside Atanu Das, Congress General Secretary Ashutosh Chatterjee and South Kolkata District Congress President Pradip Prasad have also been booked on similar charges.

Shastri’s comment urging Hindus in Bengal to avoid selling non‑veg food near Durga idols sparked a statewide debate during Durga Puja. Critics accused him of disparaging Bengali culture, while BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya countered that outsiders cannot dictate regional dietary choices.

Historical Background

West Bengal has a history of flashpoints involving religious leaders and cultural sensitivities. Similar controversies involving Baba Bageshwar in 2023 led to public protests and police interventions, illustrating a pattern where religious rhetoric intersects with political mobilization.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the arrest underscores a growing trend where regional governments use law‑enforcement to curb dissent that touches on religious sensitivities, potentially chilling free speech ahead of upcoming state elections.

“Such arrests risk setting a precedent where political dissent is equated with communal disharmony, eroding democratic norms.”
Did You Know?: Baba Bageshwar faced a similar uproar in 2023 when he urged priests to adopt vegetarianism during festivals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can Atanu Das obtain bail?

A: He remains in police custody; bail will depend on the court’s decision.

Q2: How might this incident affect the upcoming West Bengal elections?

A: Opposition parties are framing it as government suppression, which could fuel voter discontent.