Kolkata: Security has been significantly tightened around the Kolkata residence of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee following a violent confrontation late Friday night. Authorities have decided to extend the enforcement of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) around his Kalighat residence for the next 60 days. Although these restrictions had already been in place in the area since October 13, the administration chose to maintain them in the wake of the recent disturbances.
Law enforcement personnel remain deployed in the vicinity to maintain public order and prevent any further escalation as investigations and administrative reviews continue.
Allegations Made by Abhishek Banerjee
Trinamool Congress parliamentarian Abhishek Banerjee alleged on Saturday that rival party workers launched an attack on his residence during the late hours, triggering a clash between supporters of both factions. The Diamond Harbour MP claimed that the assault was orchestrated as part of a conspiracy to take his life. He asserted that his office and home had been kept under surveillance for two consecutive days leading up to the incident, resulting in severe injuries to multiple supporters.
Taking to the social media platform X, Banerjee shared video footage of the incident and stated that detractors conducted surveillance for two days before targeting his house at two in the morning. He remarked that if an elected representative faces such circumstances, one can only imagine the plight of ordinary citizens across the state.
Escalation Involving Slogans and Stone-Pelting
According to accounts of the incident, tension flared when supporters of the opposition gathered outside the Kalighat residence where ruling party workers were assembling ahead of Banerjee's birthday celebrations. The situation deteriorated into rival slogan shouting, heated arguments, physical altercations, stone-pelting, and vandalism. Amidst the chaos, Banerjee stepped out of his house during the night to check on party workers who had reportedly sustained injuries.
He accused the assailants of using spiked sticks and vandalizing the local party office. He claimed that four to five of his supporters were seriously hurt, with one requiring plastic surgery and another suffering a fracture. Furthermore, he criticized law enforcement personnel for failing to prevent the violence despite being present at the scene, while also expressing dissatisfaction with the judicial response to recurring threats.
Official Response and Political Reactions
The MP asserted that this marked the seventh attempt on his life over the past six months, alleging a lack of adequate police action or judicial intervention. In contrast, the opposition dismissed the claims, accusing ruling party supporters of instigating the confrontation. West Bengal Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh rejected the accusations, remarking that making such statements is common when power slips away. Meanwhile, Kolkata police stated that a disturbance erupted between two groups, requiring immediate police intervention to restore order.
