Several idols of Hindu gods and goddesses were vandalised in West Bengal’s Nadia district, triggering police action and a political controversy ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The incident took place in the Shantipur area of Nadia and involved idols of Goddess Kali and Goddess Saraswati that were kept outside a potter’s workshop.
According to police officials of Ranaghat Police District, the vandalism occurred on the night between January 5 and January 6, 2026, at Mathalgarh in Shantipur. The idols belonged to Jayanta Das, a potter who has been making idols in the area for nearly 30 years. Das and his family had kept several idols along the roadside near their workshop at Agameswari Tala as part of preparations for the upcoming puja season.
Speaking about the incident, Jayanta Das said he was shocked to see the damage in the morning. “When I woke up, I saw that at least 60 to 70 idols were completely broken. Most of them were idols of Kali and Saraswati. It broke my heart because this is my livelihood,” he said.
Police said that on the night of the incident, two local brothers, Amit Dey and Asit Dey, who are known in the area for creating disturbances while drunk, had an argument with Das’s son. “There was a heated exchange after the accused, who were intoxicated, picked up a fight with the sculptor’s family. After that, the workshop was closed and the family left the place,” a senior police officer said.
CCTV footage collected from the area later showed Amit Dey vandalising the idols in a drunken state. His brother, Asit Dey, was also seen at the spot for some time. The next morning, the damaged idols were discovered, following which a complaint was filed at Shantipur Police Station. Based on the footage, police identified both brothers as the accused.
“The incident is the result of a personal dispute. There is no communal or political angle involved,” a senior police official clarified. He added that a case has been registered and Amit Dey has been detained for questioning. “Further investigation is underway, and we are examining all aspects of the case,” the officer said.
However, the incident soon took a political turn after BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya shared photos and details of the vandalism on the social media platform X. In his post, Malviya claimed that around 50 to 60 idols were destroyed outside the workshop near Loknath Temple and described it as an attack on the Hindu faith under the Trinamool Congress government.
“Another brutal assault on Sanatan Dharma in Mamata’s jungle raj. Around 50–60 Kali and Saraswati idols crafted by potter Jayanta Das were vandalised,” Malviya wrote.
Police, however, have urged people not to spread misinformation or give the incident a communal colour. “We appeal to everyone to maintain calm and not draw conclusions based on political statements. This is a law-and-order issue arising from a personal clash,” police said.
