A Trinamool Congress leader accused of corruption was forcibly shaved bald, made to wear a garland of shoes, and paraded through the village by residents on Sunday morning in Shyampur, Howrah. Police have arrested him.
Background of the Accused
Sannayashi Manna, also known as Sannyasi Manna, was a dominant Trinamool Congress leader of the Amradaha Gram Panchayat under Shyampur Police Station. He faced multiple allegations including forcibly taking money meant for the 100-day work scheme, collecting illegal cuts under housing schemes, extortion, land grabbing, fishery occupation, assault, and molestation. These accusations had been brewing anger among locals for a long time.
Incident Details
According to BJP leader Masud Alam Khan, Manna had locked his house and fled with his family after the election results were announced. At dawn on Sunday, villagers spotted him in Shyampur at a secluded spot, disembarking from a boat at a fishery he had occupied while hauling fish. People surrounded him, shaved his head, placed a shoe garland around his neck, paraded him through the village, and then handed him over to the police. Based on complaints from villagers, police arrested him.
Previous Complaints
Local sources revealed that Manna had been the supervisor for the 100-day work scheme at Booth No. 1 of the Amradaha Gram Panchayat, and multiple corruption allegations surfaced even then. He allegedly continued one corrupt act after another during Trinamool Congress's rule. Local residents reportedly caught him, forced open his house, and carried out extensive vandalism. Images of the incident spread on social media and quickly went viral.
Villagers' Reactions
Villagers said that due to Manna's close ties with senior functionaries, no one dared to speak up earlier, and people quietly paid the demanded cuts. However, with changing times, they decided to push back this time. It is reported that amid public fury, Manna claimed he had taken some money from a few people for local development and would return it. After news spread about the shaving, shoe garland, and parading with a rope tied around his waist, Shyampur police arrived at the spot. Police first rescued Manna and took him to the hospital, then arrested him. A police officer said they are questioning him and gathering information about the people who were with him.
