NCST launches probe into tribals forced to do 'Dandavat Parikrama', issues notice to West Bengal police

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has launched an inquiry into allegations that some Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in West Bengal forced tribal women to perform "dandavat parikrama" (circumambulation in a prostrate position) as punishment for joining the BJP. The NCST has also issued a notice to the West Bengal Police, asking them to submit facts and an action taken report. State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar had written to the commission on Monday, demanding an inquiry into the matter and strict action against those responsible. The NCST on Wednesday wrote to West Bengal Police chief Manoj Malaviya that the commission has decided to investigate the matter and that he submit "facts and information on the action taken on the allegations within three days". The NCST also said it will issue summons for personal appearance if the West Bengal Police chief failed to respond in stipulated time. Majumdar alleged that around 200 people from tribal families in his Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency joined the BJP on April 6, which did not go down well with a section of the TMC leadership. He claimed that TMC "goons" pressured those families and forced some of them to join the TMC. In an example of "inhuman medieval period autocracy", four poor tribal women were forced to do "dandavat parikrama" for about a kilometre as punishment for joining the BJP. They were later given the TMC flag in the district party office, Majumdar claimed. A video of the purported incident is doing the rounds on social media, triggering outrage.