Expressing serious concern over public law and order, the Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal Police to immediately provide adequate security cover for Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra.
The judicial order came after the Krishnanagar MP approached the court following a hostile incident where she was targeted with eggs in her constituency.
Incidentally, Moitra faced protests in Nadia district’s Chapra town on Tuesday as demonstrators raised “Go Back” and “Chor Chor” slogans during her visit for an organisational meeting
High Court Rebukes State Authorities over Security Failures
A single-judge bench of Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj made sharp verbal observations regarding the safety of elected representatives, questioning the effectiveness of local policing.
“If an MP is
subjected to egg-pelting in public, what will happen to the common citizens?” the court remarked during the hearing. The bench noted that public figures holding constitutional positions must be allowed to perform their official and political duties without facing violent intimidation or mob disruptions.
The court directed the Superintendent of Police (Nadia) to assess Moitra’s threat perception immediately and deploy adequate armed personnel to ensure her safety during public appearances and political rallies.
The Krishnanagar Incident and Legal Escalation
The controversy stems from an incident in Nadia district, where anti-TMC protesters gathered along Moitra’s route, waving black flags, shouting slogans, and hurling eggs at her vehicle.
Following the hostility, Moitra filed a writ petition in the High Court, alleging that local police failed to take proactive measures or disperse the aggressive gathering despite prior notifications about her visit:
Inadequate Local Action: Moitra’s legal team argued that local police remained passive observers while a hostile crowd surrounded her convoy.
Inability to Discharge Duties: The petition stressed that recurring law-and-order disruptions prevented the MP from meeting constituents and inspecting local infrastructure projects.
Constitutional Right to Safety: The plea sought urgent judicial intervention to guarantee her fundamental right to personal security and free movement.
State Government’s Counter and Final Directives
Representing the West Bengal state government, legal counsel informed the court that a formal investigation had been launched into the egg-pelting incident, with multiple individuals detained for questioning. The state assured the bench that police presence around the MP’s public events would be augmented.
Disposing of the petition, the High Court emphasised that local law enforcement agencies hold a statutory duty to maintain public order and prevent targeted violence against political leaders. The court directed state authorities to submit a compliance report detailing the security measures implemented for Moitra’s upcoming public engagements.
