Mamata suffered 'severe bone injuries' in ankle in Nandigram 'attack'

Amid condemnations and allegations of “drama” over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s injuries in Nandigram, a senior doctor at Kolkata’s SSKM hospital said that her preliminary medical tests have detected severe bone injuries in her left ankle and foot.

She also suffered injuries in her right ankle, forearm, and neck, said the doctor. The chief minister has been complaining of chest pain and breathlessness since the alleged attack in East Medinipore’s Nandigram on Wednesday, he added.

The doctors at the hospital have decided to closely monitor Banerjee for the next 48 hours, he said, adding that she has slight fever and has been shifted to a special ward at SSKM’s VVIP Woodburn Block soon after she underwent MRI at Bangur Institute of Neurosciences.

“We will keep her under observation for the next 48 hours. More tests will be needed to be done, and after evaluating her condition we will decide on our next course of treatment,” a doctor, part of the team treating Banerjee, told news agency PTI.

Soon after Banerjee was brought to the hospital from Nandigram on Wednesday night, the doctors had conducted an x-ray on her.

Now the TMC supremo is undergoing treatment under a team of five senior doctors, which comprises one cardiologist, an endocrinologist, a general surgery doctor, an orthopaedist and a medicine doctor, at 12.5 special cabin of Woodburn Block.

Banerjee sustained injuries on her left leg and waist as she fell on the ground after she was allegedly pushed by unknown miscreants while campaigning for the assembly elections, after she filed her nominations to contest from the Nandigram seat on Wednesday. The Election Commission has sought a report from the state police in this regard.

Related news | Mamata suffers leg injury while campaigning in Nandigram

The TMC leadership has claimed that the attack was a well-planned conspiracy to “remove her” from the poll campaign. “Many people don’t want her to campaign for the elections. They want her to be removed from their path. That is why she has been attacked by goons. People will give a befitting reply,” state minister and senior leader Subrata Mukherjee said.

The BJP alleged that Banerjee was trying to turn a “simple accident” into a “pre-planned conspiracy”, and demanded a CBI investigation.

“It can happen that she met with an accident but to claim that she was deliberately pushed is not acceptable. She has a lot of security personnel guarding her round the clock,” said BJP’s national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. “Such tactics to gain sympathy are unacceptable. I think this should be handed over to the CBI for an investigation,” he added.

"This is 'siyasi pakhand' to gain sympathy. Before polls, she (Mamata Banerjee) planned this 'nautanki' after sensing difficulties in Nandigram. Not just CM, she is Police Mantri too. Can you believe that there was no police with Police Mantri?"

– Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury pic.twitter.com/xPfzZ5xUBY

— West Bengal Congress (@INCWestBengal) March 10, 2021

State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said such “tactics to gain sympathy” would not work this time. “Mamata Banerjee is the police minister of the state and if she is not safe then she should immediately resign from the post,” he said.

Related news | Nandigram: A close-to-heart, layered battle for Mamata, Suvendu

Meanwhile, condemnations have also poured in from across the country, with several top leaders wishing her a speedy recovery. SP leader Akhilesh Yadav has called the incident “worrisome” and said a high-level panel should be constituted to investigate the matter.

Disgusted to read of attack on West Bengal CM @MamataOfficial. Violence has no place in politics and civilized society. I wish her a speedy recovery. Those responsible must be put behind bars.

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) March 10, 2021

I strongly condemn the attack on Mamta Didi. Those responsible shud be immediately arrested and punished. I pray for her speedy recovery

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 10, 2021

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh wished Banerjee a speedy recovery and said those responsible must be put behind the bars. His Delhi counterparty, Arvind Kejriwal, also condemned the “attack” on Banerjee and called for punishment for those responsible.