May 16, 2026
AITC Rajganj candidate and celebrated athlete Swapna Barman’s house set on fire
A property belonging to Swapna Barman—AITC candidate from Rajganj for the 2026 Bengal Assembly election and the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in heptathlon, at the 2018 Asian Games—was set on fire on Friday by BJP miscreants. The property, built of corrugated tin, is located next to the house where she currently resides.
This incident continues the strain of violence by the BJP against Trinamool workers and leaders following its win in the Assembly election. It is also another proof of the hollowness of the assurances the BJP leaders have been parroting out about controlling post-election violence.
Swapna wrote about the incident in a post from her Facebook account, saying that had she known this type of violence would be visited upon her, she would never have joined politics.
AITC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee came out strongly against the attack. In a post on X, he wrote that “India FAILED YOU, dear Swapna”.
He went on: “An athlete who brought glory to the nation is being repaid with violence, intimidation and fear – simply because she chose to stand with the Trinamool Congress. THIS is the grim reality under @BJP4India’s watch. THIS is the ‘Parivartan’ they promised.”
Abhishek further wrote: “THIS is the ‘Parivartan’ they promised. The @BJP4India govt must answer. This CANNOT become the new normal.”
The national general secretary, also the leader of the party in Lok Sabha, ended his post with a grim warning: “If this is how an athlete who brought glory to India is treated for her political choices, the state of democracy should worry EVERY Indian.”
