Asian Games gold medallist Swapna Barman on Friday alleged that miscreants set fire to her old house in Ghoshpara, Kaliaganj, on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri.
However, some of her relatives and neighbours claimed the fire was linked to a family dispute and alleged that her brothers had set fire to the kitchen, a bamboo-and-straw structure attached to the house.
Swapna, who recently contested the Rajganj Assembly bypoll as a candidate of All India Trinamool Congress and lost to Dinesh Sarkar of the Bharatiya Janata Party, shared details of the incident on social media. Police and fire officials reached the spot and brought the blaze under control. According to sources, firewood and some documents stored in the kitchen were destroyed.
On Saturday morning, Swapna visited the Kotwali Police Station to file a complaint, demanding a proper investigation and security for her family.
Speaking to reporters, the athlete said she was deeply shaken by the incident.
“Had I known politics could be so cruel, I would never have entered it. I am a fighter in sports,” she said, adding that her family now lives in fear.
Swapna alleged that some people who supported her during the election campaign have since switched political loyalties and are now threatening her family. She also said children in her family are too afraid to step outside.
She further claimed that a few relatives and neighbours may have been involved, saying tensions had risen after her election defeat.
Meanwhile, some residents of Ghoshpara rejected the allegations and accused Swapna of trying to frame them over an internal family matter.
Her relatives, including her aunts and uncle, filed a counter-complaint with police. One of her aunts said the family was being falsely blamed and alleged that Swapna’s brothers had started the fire themselves.
Several neighbours also accused Swapna’s family, particularly her brothers, of intimidating local residents in the past. They claimed some people had previously faced legal trouble after disputes with the family.
One neighbour alleged that after losing the election, Swapna’s family was trying to gain public sympathy by portraying themselves as victims.
Senior Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee alleged in a social media post that political rivals were behind the incident, though he did not name any party.
BJP MLA Dinesh Sarkar dismissed the allegations, calling the incident a family matter and urging police to investigate thoroughly.
Amarnath K, Superintendent of Police of Jalpaiguri, confirmed that police had received complaints from both sides.
“We have started an investigation. Security and surveillance around her residence have been increased,” he said.
