Amid tension over the recent death of a Trinamool worker in police custody in Halishahar, West Bengal, the convoy of former chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee was attacked on Saturday. She ran into protesters on her way to meet the family of the dead worker, Birju Keot.
Videos circulating on social media show protesters surrounding Mamata Banerjee’s car, some flinging mud at it and others throwing water bottles and shoes at the convoy, with many chanting slogans branding the TMC chief a “thief” and “queen of dacoits.”
According to local media, the protest began over the family’s allegation that the TMC worker, Birju Keot, died from a beating in police custody. With local police accused of beating him to death, there was intense public anger in the area. Amid the controversy, Mamata Banerjee went to Halishahar to offer condolences to the grieving family, but protesters blocked her path before she could reach the home, creating a standoff.
Police reached the scene quickly and brought the situation under control, after which security personnel safely moved Mamata Banerjee’s convoy out of the area to prevent any further incident.
Saying the attack came as she was heading to Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas, the former chief minister said: “In front of the police, miscreants threw big stones at my car. The attack was so fierce that if the car window had been open my head would have been split open.” Alleging that police took no action, Mamata claimed the administration and police were “working to protect the BJP.”
West Bengal state BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya condemned the incident and denied any involvement by his party, saying the BJP never supported throwing stones, flinging mud or hurling shoes at a former chief minister’s convoy, that such incidents damaged West Bengal’s image, and demanding legal action against those responsible.
West Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul also condemned the attack, saying such behaviour had no place in the BJP’s political culture. While criticising Mamata Banerjee’s political record, she made clear that neither the party nor the government supported harassing any political opponent or throwing mud, ink or shoes at them. “We do not support such acts… if anyone claiming to be a BJP supporter has done this, they are making a mistake,” she said, adding that Mamata Banerjee was both a woman and a senior political figure, and that those doing such things in the BJP’s name should not be associated with the party.
The unrest largely spread over the death of the TMC worker, Birju Keot, who was in police custody on allegations of corruption and extortion. Police say he died of a heart attack, but his wife alleges he was subjected to brutal torture in custody, and there have been calls for an impartial investigation. The incident has reignited conflict in state politics, with the Trinamool Congress raising questions of police torture and accountability while the BJP has demanded an impartial and transparent inquiry.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report