Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday claimed that he was attacked while visiting the families of post-poll violence victims in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. Banerjee alleged that the attackers tried to kill him and accused the police of inaction despite being informed about the potential violence beforehand.
Incident Details
The incident took place in the Bhatpara area, where Banerjee had gone to meet the kin of those affected by the violence that erupted after the recently concluded assembly elections. According to Banerjee, a group of miscreants surrounded his vehicle and launched a sudden attack, forcing his security team to intervene.
Banerjee, who is also the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said that the attack was premeditated. He alleged that local police had prior knowledge of the threat but failed to take any preventive action. The TMC MP further claimed that the assailants were armed with sharp weapons and attempted to breach his security cordon.
Political Reactions
The TMC has condemned the attack, with party leaders demanding a thorough investigation and immediate action against the perpetrators. They have also accused the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party of orchestrating the incident, a charge the BJP has denied. The BJP, in turn, has called for a neutral probe into the matter.
West Bengal has witnessed several incidents of post-poll violence, with both TMC and BJP accusing each other of instigating clashes. The state government has deployed additional forces in violence-hit areas to restore order.
Banerjee, who was unhurt in the attack, later visited a local police station to lodge a formal complaint. He also met with senior state officials to demand enhanced security for party workers and victims' families. The incident has further escalated political tensions in the state, with both sides trading barbs.
