TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee Hurt During Mob Attack Outside Police Station in Hooghly

Kolkata: The political atmosphere suddenly heated up in Chanditala, Hooghly on Sunday afternoon. Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha Chief Whip and Serampore MP Kalyan Banerjee had just reached the police station to submit a memorandum when he was hit hard on his head. Banerjee sat on the ground with a blood soaked handkerchief pressed on his head. The allegation is directly on BJP workers. TMC and BJP came face to face outside the police station. Within no time, pushing, abusing and sloganeering started. The police had to disperse the crowd with batons. Central force was also called to the spot.

What happened outside Chanditala police station?

In fact, many TMC leaders and workers are in jail for the last three days. The party alleges that the police took unilateral action in the name of violence after the elections. In protest against this, a group of TMC under the leadership of Kalyan Banerjee were going to submit a memorandum at the police station on Sunday. As soon as the procession reached a hundred meters away from the police station, the BJP workers already present came forward carrying black flags. Slogans of “thief-thief” started echoing. TMC supporters also raised counter slogans. In this confusion, someone from behind hit Banerjee with something heavy on her head.

What did Kalyan Banerjee say after the attack?

Kalyan Banerjee said angrily, "I was coming alone on foot. Suddenly something was thrown from behind. I don't know whether it was a deuce ball or a stone. The head burst." He kept asking with a choked voice, "Are MPs also not safe now? This is not public anger but a conspiracy by BJP goons." Banerjee started protesting outside the police station itself. Said that they will not move until the attackers are arrested. The TMC workers present with him started raising slogans "BJP come to its senses".

Was Abhishek Banerjee attacked before?

On Saturday itself, there was a fatal attack on TMC's number two Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur. Abhishek had gone to the house of activist Sanju Karmakar, who was killed in post-poll violence, to console him. The crowd surrounded him as soon as he got out of the car. Eggs, stones, shoes and bricks were pelted. The security guards somehow saved them by wearing helmets. His kurta was torn, his glasses were broken and there was swelling near his eyes. Abhishek said, "If there was no helmet, my head would have been broken into two pieces. They want to kill me." Mamata Banerjee alleged that under pressure from BJP, hospitals refused to admit Abhishek.

What stand did Mamata and Kharge take on the attacks?

Mamata Banerjee wrote on X, "RULERS BECAME KILLERS - Shame on you BJP." She said that democracy is being crushed in Bengal. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also called the attack cowardly. Kharge said that not providing security to the opposition leader is BJP's politics of revenge. Here, Bengal BJP President Sukant Majumdar distanced himself. Said, "Our workers are being implicated in TMC's factionalism. BJP does not believe in violence."

What action has the police taken so far?

Two companies of RAF were deployed immediately after the incident in Chanditala. Police are examining CCTV footage. SP himself reached the spot. In the Sonarpur case, the police conducted rapid raids at night itself. Five people including Tapan Maiti, Akash were caught. In the video, these people were seen throwing stones. Police claim that the entire conspiracy will soon be exposed.

Why is election violence not stopping in Bengal?

The state has been burning since the Panchayat elections. Every week there are bombings, fighting and arson happening somewhere. TMC says that BJP is attacking the workers out of frustration of defeat. BJP claims that TMC factions are fighting among themselves and the blame for this is being put on BJP. The attack on two MPs in two days has made the situation worse. Markets are closed in Chanditala and Sonarpur. Shopkeepers are scared. Section 144 has been imposed at both the places.