Mamata Banerjee’s convoy faces protest in Bengal
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced protests on Sunday while travelling to Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas to meet relatives of a deceased Trinamool Congress worker.
The Trinamool leader was accompanied by party MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Dola Sen when her convoy came under protest near Bijpur Road. Local residents allegedly raised slogans against her and threw mud and footwear towards her vehicle. The protesters claimed that Banerjee’s visit was intended to create further political tension.
Banerjee accused the state police of failing to protect her and alleged that people backed by the BJP were responsible for the incident. She said objects, including pieces of brick, were thrown at her vehicle and claimed that the attack could have caused serious injury.
The incident marks the first such direct protest against Banerjee since the Trinamool Congress suffered a major defeat to the BJP in the Bengal Assembly elections.
Earlier, Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee had also faced a protest in Sonarpur, where demonstrators reportedly threw eggs at him.
Kalyan Banerjee, who accompanied Mamata on Sunday, accused Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of running the state with the backing of criminal elements.
The confrontation occurred against the backdrop of growing tensions surrounding the death of Birju Keot, the husband of former Kanchrapara Municipality Trinamool councillor Zeni Sharma Keot.
Keot died in police custody at Halisahar police station in North 24 Parganas on Friday night. His wife has complained to police, alleging that he was assaulted inside the lock-up.
Police had arrested Keot on allegations including extortion and other corrupt activities. He was produced before a court on Friday and sent to police custody for five days.
His family has disputed the circumstances surrounding his death, saying he appeared to be in good health when his wife met him at the police station at around 10 pm on Friday. They also said he had undergone a medical examination the previous night and that the report did not identify any serious illness.