Kolkata: Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials on Thursday morning carried out an anti-encroachment drive outside the Kalighat residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, removing a makeshift bamboo structure erected on the footpath.
A team of civic officials arrived at the residence with a bulldozer and dismantled the temporary structure. According to officials, the structure was obstructing pedestrian movement and causing inconvenience to people using the footpath.
A large contingent of central security forces was deployed outside Banerjee’s residence ahead of the demolition operation.
Action Follows Clashes Outside Banerjee’s Residence
The civic action comes days after clashes broke out between BJP and TMC supporters outside Banerjee’s residence during celebrations marking his 39th birthday.
What initially began as an altercation reportedly escalated into scuffles and stone-pelting. Banerjee alleged that there was an attempt on his life and accused BJP supporters of vandalising a nearby TMC office.
The incident sparked political controversy in the state, with the TMC leadership questioning the security arrangements outside the MP’s residence.
Banerjee Alleges Police Surveillance, Seeks Speaker’s Intervention
On Wednesday, Abhishek Banerjee accused Kolkata Police personnel of conducting surveillance around his residence and demanded intervention from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
In a post on X, Banerjee alleged that police officials were using official vehicles to monitor his residence. He claimed that a similar reconnaissance exercise had taken place the previous week, before the November 7 incident.
The TMC Leader further alleged that no arrests had been made despite four days having passed since the attack. Expressing concern over a possible fresh assault, he said he had serious reasons to believe that another attack was being planned.
He also questioned the alleged use of the police force to intimidate elected representatives and asked why the Lok Sabha Speaker had not intervened despite his repeated complaints.
MP Earlier Claimed Recce Before Attack
Earlier on Friday, Banerjee alleged that unidentified individuals conducted reconnaissance of his office and residence for two consecutive days.
According to him, when confronted, the individuals claimed to be police personnel. He questioned who had authorised the alleged surveillance and what its purpose was.
Hours after releasing a video purportedly showing the reconnaissance, Banerjee claimed that his residence was attacked around 2 am on Saturday by BJP supporters, allegedly in the presence of Kolkata Police personnel.
He also criticised the judiciary over the incident, accusing the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of remaining silent spectators.
Despite the allegations, Banerjee asserted that threats and attacks would not weaken his resolve, stating that no one could take away his courage, spirit or conscience.
Mamata Banerjee Joins Protest in Kalighat
The incident also prompted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to join her nephew in a protest at Kalighat.
She reached Abhishek Banerjee’s residence later in the morning and participated in the demonstration, expressing solidarity with him following the alleged attack.
BJP Leaders Reject TMC’s Allegations
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh dismissed the allegations raised by Abhishek Banerjee, describing them as an attempt to mislead the public.
He questioned the decision to organise birthday celebrations on a public footpath and argued that such activities could naturally lead to disturbances and confrontations.
Ghosh also rejected the suggestion of an attempt on Banerjee’s life, questioning who would want to target the TMC leader.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar similarly blamed the TMC for organising birthday celebrations on a public road, arguing that such gatherings could create situations leading to clashes.
Previous Demolition Drive at Amtala Office
This is not the first time an anti-encroachment operation has been carried out at a property associated with Abhishek Banerjee.
In July, civic authorities conducted a demolition drive amid tight security at the TMC MP’s closed office in Amtala, South 24 Parganas.
However, the Calcutta High Court subsequently directed the authorities to halt all demolition work at the office until further orders.
The latest action outside Banerjee’s Kalighat residence has once again brought the political confrontation between the ruling TMC and the BJP in West Bengal into focus.