In a significant escalation of political tension in West Bengal, the convoy of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was targeted by protesters in Kanchrapara on Sunday. The incident occurred when Banerjee arrived in the area to meet with the grieving family of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker who recently died while in police custody, while during her visit, she was met with intense hostility as a crowd surrounded her vehicle, chanting slogans of चोर-चोर (thief) and hurling mud and shoes at her car.
Details of the Hostile Encounter in Kanchrapara
The situation turned volatile as soon as Mamata Banerjee reached Kanchrapara. Protesters blocked the path of her convoy and began demonstrating aggressively. According to reports, the former Chief Minister's car was pelted with mud and shoes, marking a severe breach of security and a direct confrontation. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has responded to the incident by claiming that Banerjee had come to Kanchrapara with the intent to incite the public, and the subsequent protest was a spontaneous reaction from the common people against her presence.
Mamata Banerjee Slams State Government and CM Suvendu Adhikari
Following the attack, Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the state government and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. She alleged that the BJP had orchestrated the attack using goons. Expressing her anger over the security lapse, she stated, "Forget security. Police are protecting goons! Bengal has fallen into the hands of goons. " She further claimed that large bricks were thrown at her car, adding, "My head would have split. I would have died here.
Support from TMC Leaders and Allegations of Mafia Rule
Mamata Banerjee was accompanied by Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen during her visit. Both leaders expressed their outrage against the administration following the protest. Kalyan Banerjee leveled serious allegations against the current leadership, stating that Suvendu Adhikari is ruling the state in collusion with the police. He further alleged that the Chief Minister is utilizing mafias to carry out political work and suppress opposition.
The Context: Custodial Death of Birju Keet
The unrest in Kanchrapara stems from the death of Birju Keet, the husband of Jeni Sharma Keet, a former Trinamool councilor of Ward 23 who had recently resigned. Birju Keet, an employee of the municipality, was arrested by the Halisahar police on several charges, including extortion. He was produced in court on Friday, where the judge ordered 5 days of police custody. However, on Saturday, it was revealed that Birju Keet had died while in police custody. Jeni Sharma Keet has alleged that her husband died due to a brutal beating by the police inside the lockup. While the police have not yet issued an official reaction to these allegations, Mamata Banerjee, after meeting the family, remarked that there is no longer anything called law and order left in the state.