TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee attacked in West Bengal

A second senior Trinamool Congress leader has been injured in an alleged mob attack in West Bengal within 24 hours, according to Anandabazar Patrika, amid rising political tension following a string of assaults on party leaders in the state.

On Sunday, Kalyan Banerjee, a TMC leader and member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, was reportedly assaulted in Hooghly while visiting Chanditala Police Station to lodge a complaint over the arrest and detention of party workers.

The incident comes a day after Abhishek Banerjee, the party’s national general secretary, was allegedly attacked in South 24 Parganas during a visit to Sonarpur.

According to Anandabazar Patrika, a group of people confronted Banerjee on arrival, raising slogans of “thief, thief”.

During the commotion, a brick allegedly thrown by unidentified individuals struck him on the head, causing him to collapse on the road while holding his head.

TMC workers accompanying him provided first aid, the report said.

After recovering, Banerjee staged a sit-in protest outside the police station and demanded accountability from officers.

“Who attacked me? Why was no action taken? The attack came from behind and they tried to kill me. Would you have acted only after I died?”

Police reportedly told him that action would be taken if a written complaint was filed.

Later, Kalyan alleged that democracy in West Bengal had collapsed and questioned public safety if elected representatives could be attacked in such a manner.

However, Hooghly Rural Police Superintendent Kumar Sani Raj denied reports of any assault, saying only that a complaint had been received and was under examination.

The incident followed another reported account by Sangbad Pratidin, which said a TMC delegation led by Kalyan Banerjee was en route to Chanditala Police Station to protest Saturday’s attack on Abhishek.
Demonstrators allegedly waved black flags and shouted slogans before bricks and stones were hurled, triggering clashes between TMC workers and an angry crowd.

Later in the day, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee visited Kalyan at his Bhabanipur residence.

In a Facebook post, she alleged the BJP had orchestrated the attacks on both leaders.

Meanwhile, police have launched a statewide crackdown, arresting 10 people since Saturday night, including several TMC leaders and civic officials.

A search was also conducted at the Kamarhati residence of senior leader Madan Mitra.