Halisahar: Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee encountered a hostile reception in Halisahar, North 24 Parganas district, on Sunday when protesters surrounded her vehicle, raised ‘chor’ and ‘dakait rani’ slogans, and allegedly hurled mud, footwear, and stones at her car. The incident occurred as she was traveling to meet the family of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker who died while in police custody. The demonstration briefly halted her convoy, forcing security personnel to form a human shield to clear a passage for her vehicle through the area.
Speaking to reporters following the confrontation, Banerjee alleged that large bricks and stones were thrown at her vehicle as part of a planned conspiracy. She criticized the police for failing to provide adequate security arrangements despite prior notice of her scheduled visit, accusing the state government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of deploying local elements to target her. TMC leaders Kalyan Banerjee and Dola Sen, who accompanied her during the visit, also condemned the incident and stated that the party would pursue legal action regarding the security breach and the custodial death.
The deceased TMC worker, identified as Birju Keot, had been arrested by Halisahar police regarding extortion allegations and was remanded in police custody before his death was reported on Saturday. His family has alleged physical assault inside the lock-up led to his death. The Bharatiya Janata Party refuted allegations of a political conspiracy, asserting that local residents were protesting against her presence and accusing the TMC leadership of attempting to provoke political tensions. The event marks another flashpoint between the state administration and the opposition following similar protests encountered by TMC leaders in recent months.
