West Bengal: In A First, Didi Faces Mob Fury In WB
The former chief minister, who is entitled to a Z-plus category security cover, was not only greeted with ‘Chor, Chor’ slogan: Reports
KOLKATA: Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee faced a furious mob attack at Halishahar in North 24 Parganas of West Bengal on Sunday in her first outstation journey, after losing power to BJP, to stand by the family of a party worker following his custodial death due to alleged police torture.
The former chief minister, who is entitled to a Z-plus category security cover, was not only greeted with ‘Chor, Chor’ slogan but her car was also gheraoed and attacked with bricks, mud and shoes by a group of angry protesters. Her security detail and the police had a tough time to disperse the unruly demonstrators. Ms Banerjee, who was accompanied by her party MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Dola Sen, escaped unhurt somehow.
The mob fury unfolded when the TMC chief reached Halishahar in the afternoon to meet the family of Birju Keot, an arrested party worker who had died on Saturday due to alleged assault by the cops at the Halishahar police station a day after he was remanded in police custody by the court for five days in a case of extortion and other charges.
The victim's wife, Jenny Sharma Keot, recently resigned as a TMC councillor of ward no 23 of the Kanchrapara Municipality. Later, Ms Banerjee alleged, “Bricks were hurled at my vehicle. If the windows had not been closed, my head would have been smashed. I never witnessed such an attack in my life.”
Ms Banerjee claimed, “I was attacked in the presence of cops. Everything happened in front of them. Still they did nothing to stop it. Instead of protecting us, they remained silent spectators. My vehicle was hit by a volley of stones and bricks. If the doors or windows remained open, I could have suffered a fatal head injury. We all could have died.”
Targeting chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, she argued, “It was a planned conspiracy to attack me. If my security personnel weren't there, the consequences could have been far more serious. I have lost faith in the local police because of what I witnessed. I believe the home minister himself is responsible for what happened. I hold the police leadership accountable for the attack.”
On the custodial death of her party worker, Ms Banerjee added, “I saw people being threatened. This is a case of custodial death. I will continue to demand accountability and justice. I spoke to those present and heard everything that happened. I strongly condemn the incident. I will pursue it as far as necessary. I also assured the victim's kin of providing every possible legal assistance.”
