After Abhishek, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee injured in clash outside police station

Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee was attacked and suffered a head injury on Sunday (May 31) during a clash outside Chanditala police station in Hooghly district. The incident took place when TMC supporters, who had assembled to submit a memorandum seeking the release of arrested party leaders and workers, were confronted by BJP workers.

This came a day after party leader Abhishek Banerjee was allegedly attacked by locals when he visited Sonarpur town of South 24 Parganas district to meet families of post-poll violence victims.

The situation quickly escalated into a tense face-off as BJP workers raised slogans against the TMC supporters, calling them “thieves”. A strong deployment of local police along with central security forces was required at the spot to bring the situation under control and prevent further violence.

After the incident, Banerjee was seen pressing a wet handkerchief to his injured head. The MP strongly condemned the attack, alleging he was deliberately targeted while on his way to the police station to submit the deputation. He described it as an unprovoked assault on people exercising their democratic right to protest.

Four arrested for attack on Abhishek

Meanwhile, four people have been arrested for allegedly attacking Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee during his visit to Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district, police said on Sunday.

According to a senior police officer, the arrests were made during overnight raids based on video footage collected from the area.

Scores of people hurled stones, eggs and abuses at the Diamond Harbour MP, who escaped the mob wearing a cricket helmet and helped by aides on Saturday in Sonarpur town of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.

Banerjee was attacked when he went to visit the victims of post-poll violence, and later claimed that BJP activists were trying to kill him. Unidentified people scuffled with the leader and roughed him up while raising chants of "thief, thief".

The situation quickly spiralled into chaos, with some members of the crowd reportedly attempting to physically attack Banerjee by raining blows and kicks on him, prompting swift intervention by security personnel.

An officer said that the police have registered a case in the matter suo motu, since neither Banerjee nor the Trinamool Congress had lodged a formal complaint till Sunday. They will be produced before a court in Baruipur, police said.