West Bengal Minister Akhil Giri’s Controversy Over Threatening Forest Official

West Bengal minister Akhil Giri was caught on camera verbally abusing and threatening forest officer Moumita Sahu after an anti-encroachment operation in Tajpur. The incident sparked outrage, with TMC officials condemning Giri’s behavior. The Chief and General Secretary of TMC are monitoring the situation.

West Bengal minister Akhil Giri was seen threatening and verbally abusing a female forest officer after her team removed illegal encroachments near Tajpur sea beach in Purba Medinipur district on Saturday.

Giri, an MLA from Ramnagar, was accompanied by locals as videos broadcasted on television showed him threatening the woman official, identified as Moumita Sahu, with “cutting down her stay” in the area.

The incident has triggered controversy, prompting the TMC to denounce Giri's conduct, stating that the party does not support his remarks.

A senior official from the state forest department said several shops had been illegally established on forest department land near the beach, which got submerged during high tides. These shops were removed on Friday night.

Upon learning about the anti-encroachment operation, Giri, along with local traders, confronted the forest department officials on Saturday.

Giri defended his stance, saying, “The forest department officials removed several shops on Friday night. Many constructions have taken place on forest land, but the department could not do anything against them. The forest department is disturbing these poor people.”

When contacted, Sahu declined to comment on Giri's threats.

Sources revealed that state Forest Minister Birbaha Hansda contacted the woman official to understand the incident.

TMC spokesman Kunal Ghosh told journalists that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee are closely monitoring the matter.

“We oppose Giri's words and behavior. It is undesirable. If he had concerns about the forest department, he could have addressed them to Birbaha Hansda. Mistreating the woman officer is unfortunate. Our party does not endorse that,” Ghosh said.

Notably, Giri had previously faced criticism for making controversial remarks about President Droupadi Murmu's appearance during an open meeting in Nandigram two years ago.