Kolkata: Trinamool Congress MP and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was attacked in Sonarpur in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on Saturday while visiting families affected by post poll violence, triggering a fresh political storm in the state.
Banerjee, who is also the nephew of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, had gone to meet the family of a party worker when a group of protesters surrounded him. Eggs, stones and other objects were allegedly hurled at him. Reports said his shirt was pulled and torn, and his spectacles were damaged during the chaos.
Security personnel quickly placed a helmet on Banerjee’s head and escorted him out of the crowd. Videos from the spot showed angry sloganeering, with some protesters allegedly shouting “chor chor” as he tried to move through the area.
After the incident, Banerjee accused the BJP of sponsoring the attack. He claimed the attackers wanted to kill him and said the entire episode had been captured on camera. Banerjee also alleged that he had informed authorities about his visit in advance, but adequate security arrangements were not made.
“We will inform the High Court and the Governor. I will definitely move court,” Banerjee said after the incident, adding that the TMC would not be intimidated by such attacks.
TMC leaders immediately blamed BJP workers for the violence and party supporters staged protests at the spot. The BJP, however, rejected the allegation and denied any role in the incident.
The attack has intensified political tension in West Bengal, where both TMC and BJP have been accusing each other over post poll violence. For the ruling party, the incident is being projected as an attack on democratic outreach. For the opposition, the controversy is likely to deepen the already bitter political confrontation in the state.
The police are expected to examine video footage and local accounts to identify those involved in the incident.