Kolkata: A political visit by Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee turned violent in West Bengal’s Sonarpur on Saturday, after a group of protesters allegedly attacked him while he was meeting families affected by post poll violence.
Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary and nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had reached Sonarpur South in South 24 Parganas to meet the family of party worker Sanju Karmakar. Soon after his arrival, a crowd surrounded him and raised slogans. Stones, eggs and shoes were allegedly hurled at him.
Reports said Banerjee’s shirt was torn and his spectacles were damaged during the chaos. Security personnel placed a helmet on his head and moved him away from the crowd. Videos from the spot showed a tense scene, with people shouting slogans as the TMC leader tried to make his way through.
After the incident, Banerjee accused the BJP of sponsoring the attack and claimed that the attackers wanted to kill him. He said the incident had been captured on camera and announced that he would move court. The TMC also questioned why adequate police protection was not in place despite prior information about the visit.
The BJP rejected the allegation and denied any role in the incident. Party leaders claimed the protest reflected public anger against the TMC.
The attack drew strong reactions from opposition leaders. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the incident and said political differences can never justify violence. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also criticised the attack.
The Sonarpur episode has once again brought Bengal’s post poll violence debate into national focus. With TMC and BJP trading charges, the police investigation and video evidence will now be crucial in identifying those involved.