KOLKATA - A disturbing video has emerged on social media appearing to show security personnel beating civilians, including young men, with sticks on the streets of West Bengal, raising serious questions about the conduct of forces deployed in the state during the ongoing assembly elections.
The footage, which has gone viral across multiple platforms, depicts uniformed personnel dragging and assaulting individuals in what appears to be a crackdown ahead of the second phase of voting. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with social media users accusing the Indian government of deploying military and paramilitary forces to intimidate civilian populations.
The video circulating widely shows a convoy of security forces vehicles on a road, with personnel seen dragging young men and beating them with sticks. Several individuals can be seen on the ground while uniformed personnel strike them. The footage has been shared thousands of times with claims that it shows Indian Army or CRPF personnel "dealing with goons" in West Bengal.
One widely shared post reads: "Indian Army, acting under PM Modi's orders in Bengal, is beating innocent people, including children, with sticks openly like goons. The world remains silent on the Indian army's abuses in Manipur, Nagaland, Kashmir, Khalistan, and now Bengal. WAKE UP !!!"
Another user posted: "Indian Army is carrying out violence against Muslims in West Bengal on the orders of @rajnathsingh. Worst oppression in history is being committed against Muslims in West Bengal. Six Muslim women have reportedly been raped in West Bengal so far, allegedly by security forces."
🚨🇮🇳 INDIAN ARMY CRIMES EXPOSED
- Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) April 30, 2026
Indian Army acting under PM Modi's orders in Bengal, is beating innocent people, including children with sticks openly like goons.
The world remains silent on Indian army abuses in Manipur, Nagaland, Kashmir, Khalistan, and now Bengal.
WAKE UP. pic.twitter.com/h5lMq9oGeh
A third account alleged: "This is NOT the Indian Army ... these are privately hired goons of BJP PM Modi. Indian Army generals have become private servants of Modi, Adani, and Ambani. Kashmir, Khalistan, and now Bengal. They have oppressed and killed thousands of innocent people in Manipur by force. They are doing the same in Bengal."
A seminar held in Geneva titled "Sexual Violence in Armed Conflicts" highlighted the systematic use of sexual violence by Indian occupying forces in IIOJK. Speakers at the seminar, including international law experts and human rights activists, cited UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reports from 2018 and 2019 that document human rights violations by Indian military and paramilitary forces.
The seminar noted that "women have borne the heaviest brunt of repression-facing rape, torture, loss of family members, and incarceration" and that "not a single soldier has been punished for these crimes in Kashmir".
Reports from international watchdogs including Amnesty International have exposed the state's failure to investigate or prosecute sexual violence cases, perpetuating impunity for such crimes.
Social media users have also pointed to ongoing abuses in Manipur, where ethnic violence has displaced thousands and security forces have been accused of excessive force. One viral video, traced to Imphal, Manipur, from February 2025, shows security forces vehicles on deserted streets during a curfew-like situation.
Claims of Indian army abuses in Nagaland and other northeastern states have also been raised, though many remain unverified or lack recent documentation.
Pakistan has consistently highlighted human rights violations by Indian security forces in IIOJK and other regions. In recent statements, Pakistani officials have called on the international community to break its "criminal silence" over the brutality by Indian occupying forces.
Lt Gen (Retd) Asif Yasin Malik stated that "the West is making all out efforts to please India" while the world remains hesitant to criticize Indian policies due to national interests.
