Sing secular song: Bengal singer alleges assault bid over 'Jago Maa' performance

A popular Bengali singer has alleged that she was harassed and threatened with physical assault by a local Trinamool Congress leader for not singing “secular” songs during a live performance at a school in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district.

Singer Lagnajita Chakraborty said the incident occurred on Friday evening while she was performing at Bhagabanpur for a programme organised at a local school. In a written complaint to the police, Chakraborty alleged that a man identified as Mehboob Mallik, whom she described as one of the owners of the school, climbed onto the stage and attempted to physically assault her in full public view.

According to the complaint, the singer had just finished performing her song “Jago Ma” and was about to begin the next number when the man confronted her.

“In plain words, he wanted to beat me up,” Chakraborty wrote.

The singer said the entire episode was captured on the school’s cameras, as the organisers were recording the full concert. She urged police to secure the footage and take strict action against the accused for threatening violence against a woman on stage.

The incident took on a political dimension after the BJP alleged that the accused was a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and that the singer was targeted for not agreeing to sing “secular” songs.

Police sources confirmed that a case has been registered based on the complaint. Mithun Dey, Additional Superintendent of Police, East Midnapore, said a manhunt was underway to arrest the accused.

He added that a departmental inquiry has been ordered against the officer-in-charge of Bhagabanpur police station.

BJP leader Shankudeb Panda claimed that the artist and her team were heckled and intimidated, forcing them to return to Kolkata late at night. He also alleged police inaction, claiming officers initially made only a general diary entry and attempted to resolve the matter through an apology instead of filing a case.

The BJP has issued an ultimatum to the district police and state government, demanding swift action and threatening protests if no arrests are made within 48 hours.

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