Kolkata, Nov 7 TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee alleged that his residence here was attacked by “BJP hooligans” early on Saturday, triggering clashes between supporters of the two parties, with the opposition party accusing the state government of failing to maintain law and order during the festive season.
Banerjee, a three-term Diamond Harbour MP, claimed that the attack was part of a conspiracy to kill him as, he alleged, this is the seventh attempt on his life in the last six months.
He claimed that his office and residence had been under surveillance for two consecutive days before the incident and several of his supporters were seriously injured in the attack.
“After two days of continuous recce, this is how BJP hooligans attacked my house at 2 am today. Watch the footage and see for yourself. If this is what can happen to an elected Member of Parliament, imagine the plight of the common man in WB,” Banerjee said in a post on X, sharing a video purportedly showing the incident.
PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
The incident reportedly began when BJP supporters allegedly raised ‘chor’ (thief) slogans outside Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, where workers of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC camp had gathered to celebrate Abhishek’s birthday on Saturday.
The slogans were followed by counter-sloganeering, arguments and a confrontation between the two groups, with allegations of assault, stone-pelting and vandalism.
The MP, who came out of his residence during the night to meet the injured party workers, alleged that the attackers used wooden rods fitted with nails and vandalised the party’s local office.
He claimed that four to five of his supporters sustained serious injuries, with one requiring plastic surgery and another suffering a fracture.
Abhishek Banerjee also alleged that police personnel failed to prevent the attack despite being “present at the spot”.
“This is the seventh attempt on my life in the last six months. Yet, there has been no police action and no judicial intervention. Hooligans are running riot across the state because the judiciary continues to turn a blind eye. Thank you, Milords, for remaining mute spectators!,” the MP claimed.
He had earlier claimed that unidentified people conducted reconnaissance of his office and residence for two consecutive days. He raised the matter on social media and tagged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking attention to the alleged surveillance.
The BJP, however, rejected the allegation and accused TMC supporters of provoking the confrontation.
West Bengal Panchayats and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh dismissed Abhishek Banerjee’s claims, saying, “When power goes out of hand, such a charge is common.”
The Kolkata Police said a commotion had broken out between supporters of the two parties, prompting a police team to intervene.
An investigation into the incident was underway, a police officer said, without divulging further details.
Prohibitory orders have been clamped around Banerjee’s residence, with gatherings of more than five people not being allowed, he said.
Police sources said several people from both sides were injured in the clash and the situation remained tense through the night.
TMC spokesperson Arka Nag, however, denied that the gathering outside Banerjee’s residence was linked to his birthday, saying ordinary people had assembled in Kalighat, a traditional hub for Kali idol-making, ahead of the festival.
Questioning the imposition of prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the BNSS, Nag said it could hamper the movement of Kali idols and asked whether people would be prevented from taking them home for worship.
Mocking Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda, Nag sarcastically suggested that he be awarded a President’s Medal for his “success” in allowing incidents of violence in Kalighat, Camac Street and Chorbagan.
He was alluding to a scuffle that broke out at the TMC office on Camac Street when police and municipal officials attempted to dismantle an alleged unauthorised rooftop billboard of the party, and the stampede at a Durga Puja pandal at Chorbagan that left 19 people dead.
Nag alleged a complete breakdown of law and order, said the party had lodged a police complaint and expressed scepticism that anyone would be arrested.
Responding to the episode on the sidelines of a programme, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said, “Let us not destroy this purified environment by talking about corrupt people and thieves.
(PTI News)
