The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) will hold a sit-in protest on June 2 at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in Esplanade, Kolkata. The demonstration is being organised over allegations of post-poll violence
and attacks on TMC leaders and workers.
The announcement comes at a time of growing political tensions in West Bengal following alleged attacks on senior party figures, including TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee.
Party mobilises after Sonarpur incident
TMC workers staged protests across several parts of West Bengal on Sunday over the alleged attack on Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur on May 30.
The party has described the incident as a “planned attack”. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, has rejected the allegation and claimed that local residents were expressing their anger against the former ruling party’s leadership.
One protesting TMC worker said the situation in Bengal had become imbalanced and alleged that Abhishek Banerjee had been badly attacked. The worker also claimed that the homes of TMC leaders were being looted.
Abhishek Banerjee was allegedly attacked while visiting families affected by post-poll violence in South 24 Parganas. According to the party, bricks, stones and eggs were thrown at him, and he suffered an injury near his eye.
Kalyan Banerjee alleges assault
The political row intensified after Kalyan Banerjee alleged that he was attacked near Chanditala Police Station in Hooghly district on Sunday.
The TMC MP said he was on his way to submit a deputation regarding post-poll violence when the incident took place. Describing it as an “attempt to murder”, he alleged that BJP workers assaulted him outside the police station.
Senior TMC leader Madan Mitra accused the BJP of being behind the attack. He said the incident warranted protests across the country and alleged that the BJP did not want any opposition against it.
Following the incident, Mamata Banerjee visited Kalyan Banerjee at his residence.
In a post on X, Abhishek Banerjee thanked Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for extending support following the Sonarpur incident. He alleged that the attack was intended to intimidate the Opposition and described it as a state-sponsored and Centre-backed attempt to silence political opponents.
Five arrested in connection with attack on Abhishek
Meanwhile, five people arrested in connection with the alleged attack on Abhishek Banerjee were produced before a court in Baruipur. The accused have been identified as Akash Gayen, Kajal Das, Debashish Dutta, Nirmalya Sengupta and Tapan Maiti.
Sonarpur Police arrested all five in connection with the case, which has been registered at Sonarpur Police Station. In a statement, West Bengal Police confirmed the arrests and said all five accused are residents of the local area.
