Kolkata: MP and Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was roughed up on Saturday, allegedly by locals, when he visited West Bengal’s Sonarpur area to meet families of post-poll violence victims, the police said.
Stones, shoes and eggs were hurled at the TMC MP by unidentified people who even attempted to rain blows and kicks on him, while they shouted ‘thief’ slogans at Banerjee, PTI reported.
In videos circulated by ANI, Banerjee was seen being escorted out of the area with a police helmet on and his shirt tattered.
“Look what they have done to me. This was pre-planned. There is no police in the area. They want to kill me. I will not leave this place till the local police send their force and offer protection to the victims’ families,” Banerjee said.
Banerjee, nephew of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and the MP from the Diamond Harbour constituency has been extremely vocal against the BJP during the election campaign earlier this year.
Soon after the BJP swept the elections in the state, winning a two-third majority in the Assembly, questions started being raised about the properties owned by him and his company. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation also issued notices regarding the properties.
He enjoyed heavy security cover ahead of the elections, which was reduced after the BJP government came to power. People started gathering outside his prime Harish Mukherjee Road property – that was out of bounds – after the results were declared and shouted “chor (thief)” slogans.
He was also heckled as he was leaving a counting centre on May 4.
The police have said that they are investigating Saturday’s incident while the BJP leadership denied involvement.
“It was a spontaneous attack by people who had faced torture by TMC goons for so long. Banerjee threatened people even during his campaign speeches,” a BJP leader said.
