Political tensions in West Bengal escalated on Sunday after Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee was allegedly injured during a protest outside Chanditala Police Station in Hooghly district.
The incident occurred just a day after TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was allegedly attacked during a visit to Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district.
According to reports, Kalyan Banerjee had arrived with a delegation of TMC leaders to submit a memorandum regarding the arrest of party workers following the recent Assembly elections. During the visit, a group of protesters gathered outside the police station, waving black flags and raising slogans against the TMC leadership.
Protest Turns Tense
Witnesses reported that tensions rose as demonstrators shouted slogans and confronted the TMC delegation. Amid the commotion, Kalyan Banerjee allegedly suffered a head injury.
The Sreerampore MP was seen holding a cloth to the back of his head while speaking to the media. He claimed that he had been attacked in full public view and accused supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being responsible.
“I was hit on my head and am bleeding. All this happened in front of the police,” Banerjee alleged while addressing reporters.
Following the incident, the TMC leader staged a sit-in protest, accusing law enforcement authorities of failing to prevent the disturbance.
Heavy Security Deployment
To prevent further escalation, police personnel and central security forces were deployed in large numbers around the area.
Authorities closely monitored the situation as political workers from both sides exchanged accusations over the incident.
While TMC leaders alleged that BJP supporters orchestrated the protest, BJP representatives rejected the allegations and claimed that public anger against the ruling party was behind the demonstrations.
Incident Follows Attack on Abhishek Banerjee
The latest development comes a day after Abhishek Banerjee, TMC’s national general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP, was allegedly heckled and attacked in Sonarpur while meeting families reportedly affected by post-poll violence.
According to police, stones and eggs were allegedly thrown at Banerjee during the visit. The incident led to a police investigation, with five individuals arrested and two others detained.
The TMC described the Sonarpur incident as a serious attack on its leadership and demanded strict action against those involved.
Mamata Banerjee Announces Protest Programme
Reacting to the recent incidents, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee criticised the attacks on party leaders and announced a series of political protests.
She stated that she would lead a rally in central Kolkata from June 2 to highlight what the party describes as growing political violence against its workers and leaders.
The developments have further intensified the political atmosphere in West Bengal, with both the TMC and BJP trading allegations ahead of upcoming political campaigns and public programmes.
Political Tensions Continue
The back-to-back incidents involving senior TMC leaders have sparked fresh political debate across the state. As investigations continue, authorities are expected to review security arrangements for political events and public gatherings in sensitive areas.
Further details are awaited as police continue their inquiry into both the Hooghly and Sonarpur incidents.
