A land dispute in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali escalated into a tense confrontation after BJP MLA Rekha Patra was allegedly seen grabbing a police officer by the collar during a heated argument. A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media, showing Patra involved in a confrontation with police personnel in the presence of central security forces. The incident has triggered fresh political attention around the BJP legislator and the law-and-order situation in the politically sensitive Sandeshkhali area.
The confrontation reportedly took place in Bowthakurani village under the Sandeshkhali-II block of North 24 Parganas district. The dispute is linked to a piece of agricultural land claimed by members of Patra’s parental family. According to reports, the land dispute has been continuing for several years and has also been the subject of legal proceedings.
The latest flashpoint reportedly emerged when one side sought to cultivate the disputed land, citing a court direction. This led to a confrontation between the parties at the site. As tensions increased, police personnel and central forces were deployed to prevent the situation from escalating further.
It was during this confrontation that the situation reportedly became physical. The viral video shows Patra engaged in a heated exchange with police personnel, with footage appearing to show her holding the collar of a police officer. The visuals have become the central focus of the controversy, although the complete circumstances surrounding the exchange and what preceded the physical confrontation are yet to be independently established.
The incident has raised questions about the conduct of an elected representative during a confrontation with law-enforcement personnel. It has also drawn attention to the difficulties faced by authorities in dealing with long-running land disputes in areas where political tensions remain high.
Dispute over family land
The property at the centre of the latest confrontation is reportedly around nine bighas of agricultural land associated with Patra’s parental family. The dispute is said to involve different claimants to the property and has remained unresolved for years.
Reports indicate that the matter reached court in 2014. The latest confrontation reportedly followed an attempt by the opposing side to use or cultivate the land, with the parties taking different positions over their respective rights to the property.
The presence of police and central forces at the location suggests that authorities were anticipating resistance or a possible escalation. Despite the security deployment, however, the disagreement reportedly turned into a heated face-off.
Viral video puts Rekha Patra in spotlight
The video circulating online has brought particular focus to Patra’s interaction with the police. In the footage, she can be seen arguing with personnel at the spot, with the confrontation appearing to intensify before she allegedly grabs the collar of one of the officers.
The video has been widely shared, but it does not by itself establish the entire sequence of events. It remains necessary to determine what happened before the recording began, what prompted the argument and whether any formal complaint has been filed over the alleged incident.
The allegations against Patra and the other individuals involved have not, therefore, been treated as established findings. The police investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings will determine whether further action is warranted.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of Patra’s prominent role in the Sandeshkhali protests of 2024. She emerged as one of the women who publicly raised allegations concerning land-related grievances and sexual harassment in the area. The issue subsequently became a major political flashpoint in West Bengal.
Patra later entered electoral politics and contested on a BJP ticket. She was elected from the Hingalganj Assembly constituency in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election, marking a transition from protest politics to an elected political role.
