SONARPUR / KOLKATA:
A high-stakes political flashpoint erupted in South 24 Parganas on Saturday afternoon as Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was violently heckled, physically assaulted, and targeted with stones, shoes, and eggs during a ground visit to Sonarpur South.
Banerjee was visiting the family of a deceased party worker, Sanju, who was allegedly murdered in recent post-poll violence. The situation escalated rapidly as a furious mob cornered the MP, tearing his clothes, breaking his spectacles, and chanting “Chor, Chor” (Thief) slogans. Security personnel eventually managed to rescue a bruised Banerjee from the crowd, forcing him to wear a police helmet to protect his head from flying bricks.
“They Wanted to Kill Me”: Banerjee Points Blame at BJP
Following his rescue by local police and central forces, Banerjee was rushed to Kolkata for medical evaluation, where doctors noted bruises to his chest and arm but confirmed he was fully conscious and stable. Speaking to reporters with visible injuries, Banerjee alleged a deep-rooted conspiracy.
Abhishek Banerjee Statement: “This was a pre-planned attack to kill me. They hit my eye with a brick, punched me repeatedly, and tore my clothes. If I hadn’t been wearing a helmet, my head would have been split in two. From 11 AM onwards, political goons were hoarded inside a nearby community hall just to orchestrate this. It is entirely BJP-sponsored, but they cannot make me cower down.”
The TMC top brass launched a fierce offensive against the opposition. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the incident, stating that “rulers have become killers,” while Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien openly questioned the sudden absence of adequate police protection during a pre-scheduled VIP visit. Banerjee has vowed to take the matter directly to the High Court and the Supreme Court.
The Counter-Narrative: Political Clashes vs. Civic Anger
The opposition BJP has fiercely denied orchestrating the violence, instead spinning the narrative back onto internal TMC factionalism and local frustration. Following overnight raids, police detained seven individuals and formally arrested five.
Union Minister and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar claimed that the arrested individuals are actually active TMC workers close to a local former party MLA, hinting that the violence was born out of internal party rifts. Meanwhile, ground reports and local testimonies paint a third picture: an outburst of long-simmering public anger by local residents—particularly women brandishing black flags and brooms—protesting against severe civic apathy, terrible road infrastructure, and unaddressed waterlogging in the Sonarpur region.