Five people were arrested and two were detained by police during night raids for allegedly harassing and manhandling Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur district of South 24 Parganas on Saturday afternoon, police said.
“Seven people were arrested based on security camera and news footage of the mob attack on Banerjee. Five of them were arrested after being interrogated,” a police officer said, requesting anonymity.
On Saturday, Banerjee sustained minor injuries after being attacked with stones and eggs in West Bengal’s Sonarpur district, where he had gone to meet families of victims of post-election violence.
Many people were seen tackling the leader amid intense chants against Banerjee and his aunt, former Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee. Some reportedly tried to attack Banerjee by punching and kicking him, prompting security personnel to intervene. Later, a large contingent of district police, accompanied by central armed forces, escorted the TMC commander out.
The police registered a suo motu case after Saturday’s incident, which the TMC described as an attempt to kill the Diamond Harbor Lok Sabha member.
Union minister and former state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said those arrested have been identified as TMC workers.
“We have learned that the accused are TMC workers and are known to be close to Lovely Maitra. Let the police investigate,” Majumdar said, referring to the former TMC MLA from Sonarpur South local seat.
Mitra refuted the charge. “Many women activists of the BJP participated in the attack. The BJP is trying to portray the planned attack as an opposition revolution by local residents,” Mitra said.
Kunal Ghosh, TMC state general secretary, said: “The police did the right thing by arresting these people even if they were former TMC employees. But why were not all those involved in the attack arrested? TV footage showed stones being thrown at Abhishek.”
Meanwhile, Banerjee was examined at two private hospitals and discharged. Doctors said he had bruises on his chest but did not need to be hospitalized.
“They want to kill me. Let them kill me. Let my body be recovered from here. But I will not surrender and abandon Karmakar’s parents. Ask the police to send reinforcements. Send the police a WhatsApp message to keep a record. I am drawing the attention of the Calcutta High Court and the Governor. There were no police personnel there. There were no police personnel there,” Banerjee said while talking to the media sitting at Karmakar’s residence.
“Now people are being denied treatment. Hospitals are under threat… He will undergo treatment at home… If he had not worn the helmet… he would have died on the spot,” TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said.
She added that she will take to the streets from June 2 with a massive demonstration in central Kolkata.
