‘Could have died’: Mamata alleges car attack in Bengal, slams police for ‘inaction’
The former chief minister alleged stones and bricks were hurled at her vehicle in North 24 Parganas and accused police of failing to protect her during the protest
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's car allegedly came under attack in North 24 Parganas district on Sunday (August 9). She alleged that some unidentified men hurled bricks and stones at her vehicle, saying the attack could even have cost her life. The state BJP condemned the incident and denied having any role in the violence.
Banerjee faced protests in Halisahar while she was on her way to the home of a party worker who allegedly died in police custody. Protesters surrounded the Trinamool chief's car, smeared mud on it and allegedly hurled shoes and water bottles. "Chor bhagao" slogans rent the air as police were seen trying to push the protesters back.
Mamata alleges planned conspriracy
Banerjee later told reporters that she could have been killed if the bricks and stones had hit her. “Bricks were hurled at my vehicle. If the windows had not been closed, my head could have been smashed. I have never witnessed such an attack in my life. I was attacked in the presence of the police. My vehicle was hit with so many stones and bricks that if the doors or windows had been open, I could have suffered a fatal head injury. We all could have lost our lives.”
“Everything happened right in front of the police, yet they did nothing to stop it. Instead of protecting us, they remained silent spectators. From everything I witnessed, I believe there was a planned conspiracy to attack me. If my security personnel had not been present, the consequences could have been far more serious. I have lost faith in the local police because of what I witnessed.”
Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen, who were accompanying Mamata Banerjee, also expressed their anger against the administration. "(Chief Minister) Suvendu Adhikari is running the show using the police," the Lok Sabha MP said.
BJP condemns alleged attack
State BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya, who has maintained that he would not tolerate violence by party workers, condemned the alleged attack on the former chief minister. He said the BJP had no connection with the incident and urged the police to take action against those accused.
The alleged attack comes months after Banerjee's nephew and Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee faced an attack in his own constituency, following his party's resounding defeat in the West Bengal elections.
Mamata Banerjee was in North 24 Parganas district this morning to visit the family of Birju Keot, the husband of a former Trinamool councillor who allegedly died in police custody. Keot was arrested on extortion charges and sent to five days of police custody by a court last Friday. Jenny Sharma, former councillor of the Kanchrapara municipality, had alleged that her husband was tortured and beaten to death in the lock-up.
“This is a case of custodial death, and we will continue to fight for justice. We will pursue every legal avenue until those responsible are held accountable, and we will stand with the victim's family throughout this fight,” said Kalyan Banerjee.