Hindus for Human Rights Calls for an End to Political Violence and Revenge Across Indian States After Elections
June 2nd, 2026 – (Washington, DC) – In the wake of violent incidents in West Bengal and Kerala, Hindus for Human Rights condemns the political violence that has swept across India after elections.
On May 30, 2026, Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress Party was attacked in Sonarpur, West Bengal on his way to visit a recently-killed Trinamool worker’s family. lt. Individuals wielding black flags, bricks, shoes, and eggs cornered him, heckled and assaulted him. Banerjee was sent to a hospital after the attack.
Since the attack, five locals have been arrested in connection to the incident. Despite these arrests, Banerjee’s assault has intensified already high political tensions across West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek’s aunt and former Chief Minister, alleged Bharatiya Janata Party orchestration of the attack and stated that hospitals were pressured by the BJP to not admit Abhishek for care.
This violence has been carried out under the watch of 200,000 Central Reserve Police Force, who were ostensibly deployed to prevent post-poll violence in West Bengal. This violence, then, is occurring with the permission of the central government. Regardless of the motivations behind the attacks, they are part of a violent political transition filled with revenge and intimidation that should have no place in a healthy democracy.
In Kerala, protests outside the house of ex-Central Minister Pinarayi Vijayan turned into an attack on Enforcement Directorate officials. The ED was raiding Vijayan’s house at the time after the CM lost power. This is part of a long history of the ED going after opposition politicians, and CPIM workers protested this move. As CPIM workers attacked the ED, senior leaders of the party de-escalated the protests to prevent further violence. But again, central forces were being used to impose the BJP’s political will, which fueled this post-poll violent incident.
Hindus for Human Rights commends the CPIM leaders who de-escalated this violent incident and urges other politicians, especially those in the West Bengal BJP and TMC, to do the same. Revenge attacks and post-poll violence cannot be a feature of Indian democracy. Peaceful transfers of power are vital to India's endurance.
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For all press and media inquiries, please reach out to our Campaigns and Press Relations Manager, Faria Rehman, at Faria@HindusforHumanRights.org.