Matua Community Calls 'Bengal Bandh' on Jan 5 Over Shantanu Thakur's Statement, Thakurbari Clashes

• All India Matua Mahasangh (Mamata Thakur faction) calls for a 'Bengal Bandh' on January 5, 2026, at 12 PM.
• Protest stems from alleged attack on Matua supporters at Thakurbari and exclusion of Matua votes in SIR process.
• Union Minister Shantanu Thakur's controversial statement about Matua votes and infiltrators sparked widespread discontent.
• Clashes erupted at Thakurbari on Friday following protests against Shantanu Thakur's remarks, injuring a supporter.
• Matua politics is now clearly divided, with the community's crucial vote bank impacting upcoming West Bengal elections.

Why It Matters: Matua community's 'Bengal Bandh' on Jan 5 highlights deep divisions and electoral impact in West Bengal.