19 Arrested in West Bengal's Illegal Sand Mining Crackdown Following BJP Internal Clash

The video of the incident had gone viral on social media

Tension enveloped Purulia town in West Bengal following a dramatic confrontation between a BJP worker and a party MLA during a crackdown on illegal sand mining operations. Law enforcement has taken 19 individuals into custody for allegedly participating in unauthorized sand extraction from the area's riverbeds.

Police officials report that the arrests occurred after a Wednesday night operation when authorities intercepted two overloaded tractors carrying illegally mined sand through Purulia town. BJP worker Suraj Sharma reportedly spearheaded protests against these vehicles, claiming widespread illegal sand trading activities operating under both police and political protection.

The situation deteriorated when Sharma engaged in a heated exchange with Purulia BJP MLA Sudip Mukherjee at the local police station. According to witnesses, the verbal disagreement escalated into a physical altercation. A video capturing the clash between the two BJP representatives circulated widely across social media platforms, triggering extensive reactions from party members and local residents.

In response to the incident, police authorities intensified their campaign against illegal sand mining operations throughout the region and apprehended 19 suspected sand traders. All detained individuals appeared before the Purulia District Court on Friday.

Sources indicate that this confrontation has revealed growing internal divisions within the BJP's local organization in Purulia. Senior party leadership is anticipated to intervene to address the dispute and preserve unity as the upcoming assembly elections approach.