A day after Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee was harassed in Sonarpur district of South 24 Parganas, another party MP, Kalyan Banerjee, was allegedly attacked in West Bengal’s Hooghly district when he arrived to submit a memorandum against the arrest of party workers after the Assembly elections.
The incident came a day after Abhishek Banerjee was manhandled by several people during his visit to Sonarpur to meet families affected by the post-election violence.
TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee ‘attack’ near Kolkata
Tension gripped the area outside Chanditala police station as a group of people waved black flags at Kalyan Banerjee, the Srirampur MP from Hooghly district, and shouted “thief” at him and other members of the TMC delegation.
The MP claimed that he was hit on the head during the protest and was injured. He was seen holding a piece of cloth on the back of his head.
He claimed that BJP supporters were behind the attack. “All this happened in front of the police. I was hit on the head and I was bleeding,” he told reporters, blaming ruling party supporters for the attack.
The Lok Sabha MP then staged a dharna, accusing the police of failing to act. He also said that the TMC would continue its protests against what he described as “BJP-sponsored attacks”.
Large forces of police and central forces were deployed in the area to prevent the situation from worsening. The BJP rejected the allegations and claimed that people across the state were expressing their anger against the TMC leaders.
Attack on “Baibo”
Abhishek sustained minor injuries on Saturday after stones and eggs were thrown at him in Sonarpur, where he had gone to meet families affected by the post-election violence.
The police registered a suo motu case following the incident, which the TMC described as an attempt to kill the Diamond Harbor Lok Sabha MP. During the night raids, police arrested five people and arrested two others in connection with the case.
“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 also announced that she will take to the streets from June 2 and lead a massive march in central Kolkata.
With input from agencies
