A local resident has been arrested in the Kali idol vandalism incident in Kakdwip, South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Trinamool Congress has alleged that the person, Narayan Halder is a BJP activist. Halder has reportedly confessed to the police that he did this heinous act under the influence of alcohol.

However, police have claimed that the incident of Kali idol vandalism in Kakdwip is devoid of political colours. The incident took place on Tuesday evening at a temple in Suryanagar gram panchayat. The police have also appealed to the locals to maintain peace in the area.

Superintendent of Police of Sundarbans Police District Koteshwar Rao said in a press conference that a person named Narayan Halder has been arrested so far in the incident of breaking the statue. The person has also confessed to his crime to the police. Further investigation is underway.

The arrested person told the police that he did this act in a completely drunken state, for which he is repentant. When the arrested person was produced in the Kakdwip court on Thursday, the court ordered him to be remanded in police custody.

What exactly happened?

Tension has flared in West Bengal after a Kali idol was vandalised in Kakdwip, leading to a fierce political confrontation between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The controversy intensified following allegations that the damaged idol was transported away by police in a vehicle labelled by BJP leaders as a “prison van,” a move they condemned as a grave insult to Hindu faith.

The incident occurred in Kakdwip, within the state’s South 24 Parganas district, where the idols of Goddess Kali and Lord Shiva were discovered severed at a local puja pandal on Wednesday morning. The discovery immediately drew a large, angry crowd of locals who attempted to carry the damaged idols to National Highway 117 to stage a blockade.

Police intervened to prevent the highway protest, resulting in a brief scuffle with the villagers. Following the unrest, additional security forces were deployed, and patrolling was intensified to maintain law and order.

Tension between Trinamool Congress and BJP following Kali idol vandalism

The vandalism triggered a strong political reaction, with top BJP leaders alleging a wider conspiracy, blaming the state’s deteriorating law-and-order situation, and accusing the administration of attempting a cover-up. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari strongly condemned the act, claiming on social media that “jihadis cut off the head of the idol of Mother Kali.” He sharply criticised the state’s security, stating, “Don’t mistake the scene… for Bangladesh; this is the current state of West Bengal.”

Adhikari further alleged that the state administration was busy trying to “suppress the incident,” claiming police had initially “intimidated villagers and locked the temple doors,” only reopening them after significant public protest. He criticised the TMC government for its failure to make any arrests in connection with the incident.

The ruling Trinamool Congress has also criticised BJP’s plan to spread communal tension in the area. When Trinamool state general secretary Kunal Ghosh was asked about this, he attacked and said, “The incident is very unfortunate. BJP has given it a politically motivated colour. In the end, it turned out that a person named Narayan Haldar, a youth wing member of BJP, was involved in this incident. It remains to be seen whether he did it in an unnatural situation or not. It remains to be seen whether someone from BJP has encouraged this act.”

Police’s justification for using “prison van” to transport damaged idol

Police department was criticised for transporting the damaged idol in a prison van. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari wrote in an X post, “Just list one reason justifying your act of placing Maa Kali’s idol in the Prison Van. Hang your heads in shame…”

Addressing the protest, the police stated that locals had blocked the national highway with the damaged idol, causing serious public inconvenience, including ambulances carrying patients being stuck. The police said, “At that time, we prioritised protecting the honour and sanctity of the Kali idol. Taking quick action, the Kali idol was saved from the brickbats and safely taken to the prison van. Because, at that time, there was no other covered vehicle around. Whatever we did, was done to protect the honour and sanctity of Maa Kali and maintain peace. Do not spread unnecessary confusion about this. Do not listen to rumours.”

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