Tajimul Islam, better known as ‘JCB’ among the locals, who was arrested on Sunday for publicly whipping a woman and a man after a video of the incident surfaced on social media, is known for presiding over such ‘salishi sabhas’ (kangaroo courts) to deliver instant justice, local residents say. He got the name ‘JCB’ because he “destroys his opposition”, they say. Police registered a case on the basis of the video of the June 28 incident and arrested Tajimul of Dighalgaon village in Lakhipur gram panchayat under the Uttar Dinajur district. According to the local political leaders of opposition parties, the accused is a Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporter and allegedly organises kangaroo courts in disputes of all kinds, ranging from property to extramarital affairs. Besides the physical assaults, he also imposes fines, they say. “He is a TMC worker and close to the local MLA. He is called JCB because he demolished his opposition…such is his terror among the common people… his way of justice came to the light this time because of the video. Other such courts he had held went unreported,” said Surajit Sen, BJP vice-president of Uttar Dinajpur district. “People are too scared to go to the police, so they approach him. Some issues he takes up himself. The victim man and woman and their families (in the present incident) are too scared to lodge a police complaint,” said Sen. “From vote management during elections to local justice, Tajimul did it all. This is apart from extorting money from local businessmen. The entire Lakkhipur panchayat area is under his and his team's control. Since he enjoys political backing… he continues to rule the area,” said Anarul Haq, CPM’s district president. Trinamool MLA of Chopra Hamidul Islam said: “Police have taken action and we have condemned the incident. Everyone in Chopra is a supporter of the TMC. But this man holds no position (in TMC).” “Police promptly identified and arrested one person who had publicly assaulted a lady,” read a post from West Bengal Police on X. Islampur SP Joby Thomas K said, “The accused has been booked under relevant sections (of assault) and will be produced in a court tomorrow.”
