Asian Video games gold medalist, who fought on TMC ticket, claims Bengal dwelling torched

3 min learnKolkataCould 17, 2026 07:10 AM IST

Asian Video games gold medal-winning athlete Swapna Barman, who unsuccessfully contested from the Raiganj Meeting seat on a TMC ticket this 12 months, on Saturday alleged that miscreants tried to set her home ablaze in Jalpaiguri, police stated.

She later lodged a grievance at Kotwali police station.

Barman, who joined the TMC on February 27, misplaced to her BJP rival Dinesh Sarkar by a margin of 21,477 votes within the just lately concluded Meeting elections.

“We’ve got obtained a grievance from her. Final evening, there was a fireplace incident within the kitchen shade of her previous home. Some paperwork have been discovered to be charred. Barman alleged that some miscreants tried to set her home on fireplace. We’ve got began an investigation,” Okay Amarnath, Superintendent of Police, Jalpaiguri, stated.

In the meantime, Senior TMC chief Abhishek Banerjee accused BJP staff of torching Barman’s home.

Taking to X, Banerjee alleged that Barman was focused by “BJP goons” as a result of she joined the TMC and fought the just lately concluded state polls on the occasion’s ticket.

“An athlete who introduced glory to the nation is being repaid with violence, intimidation and concern — just because she selected to face with the Trinamool Congress,” he wrote.

The submit from the TMC’s basic secretary stating “India FAILED YOU, expensive Swapna”, got here a day after Barman took to social media to state that “becoming a member of politics was a mistake”.

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On Friday, Barman had alleged {that a} property owned by her, constructed of corrugated tin and positioned subsequent to the home she at the moment resides in, was set on fireplace by unidentified miscreants. The affected property was inhabited by a brother of the athlete who, she alleged, was receiving loss of life threats from “unidentified goons” within the aftermath of the Could 4 declaration of meeting ballot outcomes.

Barman stated she too was threatened with “dire penalties, together with rape”.

“Had I identified this might occur, I’d have by no means joined politics. Right this moment they set my home on fireplace,” she later posted on her social media web page.

Banerjee, in his submit on X, launched a scathing assault on the BJP, accusing the occasion of perpetrating the violence.

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“THIS is the grim actuality below @BJP4India’s watch. THIS is the ‘Parivartan’ they promised,” Banerjee stated.

“The @BJP4India govt should reply. This CANNOT change into the brand new regular. If supporting the Trinamool Congress now means risking your security, your loved ones and even your house, WHERE ARE WE HEADED, AS A NATION? If that is how an athlete who introduced glory to India is handled for her political decisions, the state of democracy ought to fear EVERY Indian,” he added.

(With PTI inputs)

Ravik Bhattacharya is a extremely skilled and award-winning journalist at the moment serving because the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Categorical, Kolkata. With over 20 years of expertise within the media trade, Ravik possesses deep experience throughout a variety of crucial topics and geographical areas.

Expertise & Authority

Present Function: Chief of Bureau, The Indian Categorical, Kolkata.

Experience: Intensive reporting throughout West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and the Andaman Nicobar Islands. Ravik focuses on politics, crime, main incidents and points, and investigative tales, demonstrating a sturdy command of complicated and delicate topics.

Expertise: His lengthy and distinguished profession contains key reporting roles at a number of prestigious publications, together with The Asian Age, The Statesman, The Telegraph, and The Hindustan Instances. Ravik’s present function marks his second stint with The Indian Categorical, having beforehand served as a Principal Correspondent within the Kolkata bureau from 2005 to 2010.

Main Award: Ravik’s authority and high quality of labor are substantiated by his profitable of the celebrated Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for Political Reporting.

Training: His robust educational basis features a Bachelor’s diploma with English Honours from Scottish Church Faculty below Calcutta College, and a PG Diploma in Mass Communication from Jadavpur College.

Ravik Bhattacharya’s in depth tenure, specialised beat protection, and notable award affirm his standing as a trusted and authoritative voice in Indian journalism, significantly for tales emanating from Jap India. … Learn Extra