Renowned West Bengal playback singer Lagnajita Chakraborty has accused a man of heckling and physically harassing her during a performance at a private function. The incident occurred on Saturday while she was singing a devotional song.
Details of the Disturbing Incident
Speaking to news agency ANI, Chakraborty described the event that unfolded at a school function. She stated her show began smoothly around 7 pm. By 7:45 pm, she had performed seven songs and was about to start her eighth. The seventh song was the devotional track 'Jago Maa' from the movie 'Devi Chowdhurani', released during the recent Pujo season.
"While I was interacting with the audience after this song, I suddenly saw one man from the audience charging towards the stage," the singer recounted. She alleged the man, identified as Mahboob Mallick, came dangerously close to her face with the clear "intention to hit" her.
Chakraborty emphasized that the entire concert was being recorded by the school, a common practice. She expressed hope that if the video becomes public, it would clearly show Mallick's aggressive charge towards the stage.
Alleged Demand for Secular Song and Disrespect
As people intervened to pull the man away, he reportedly shouted, "Enough of Jago Maa, now sing something secular." This demand to switch from a devotional song to a secular one appears to have triggered the confrontation.
Adding to her distress, Chakraborty claimed Mallick addressed her using the informal and potentially disrespectful pronoun "tu" in Bengali. She highlighted that Bangla is a nuanced language with various respectful terms, and using "tu" with an unknown person or guest is not part of the culture and can be considered abusive.
Following the traumatic event, the singer filed a General Diary (GD) at the Bhagwanpur Police Station. She voiced her faith in the police and administration, hoping such an incident would not recur. Defiantly, she announced plans to sing 'Jago Maa' again at an upcoming show in the Arambagh area, trusting the authorities to ensure her safety.
Police Action and Political Fallout
The Purba Medinipur police acted swiftly, arresting the accused, Mahboob Mallick, who was initially absconding. SP Mithun De confirmed the arrest, calling the incident "unfortunate." The police plan to present Mallick in court and seek remand for further investigation. They remain in touch with the singer.
The incident quickly drew sharp political reactions. BJP leader Shankudeb Panda claimed Mallik is an active worker of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty condemned the act and blamed the state government.
However, TMC spokesperson Aroop Chakraborty termed the incident "condemnable" but asserted it was wrong to link the party to every such event. The case remains under active investigation as the singer seeks justice and safety for performers across the state.
