Four people have been arrested following a chaotic overnight raid sparked by a dramatic mob attack on Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee.
The Diamond Harbour MP was targeted on Saturday during a visit to Sonarpur in the South 24 Parganas district to meet victims of post-poll violence. The situation escalated rapidly as an angry crowd cornered Banerjee, hurling stones, eggs, and verbal abuses while chanting “thief, thief.” Security personnel and aides scrambled to protect the leader, who resorted to wearing a cricket helmet to escape the flying debris and physical blows from the crowd.
Because neither Banerjee nor the TMC filed a formal complaint, local police registered a case suo motu (on their own motion) using video footage from the scene to identify the suspects. The four individuals arrested are scheduled to appear before a court in Baruipur.
Hospital drama
Following the assault, Banerjee was taken to Kolkata for medical evaluation, triggering a secondary wave of political controversy. According to reports, Banerjee was first wheeled into Apollo Multispeciality Hospital and later shifted to Belle Vue Clinic, complaining of pain in his neck, back, and waist. Medical sources at both facilities maintained that his injuries were superficial—noting only chest bruises—and concluded he was fully conscious and did not require admission.
Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sharply criticized the hospital administrations, accusing them of buckling under “pressure from above” to deny proper treatment. “That is why we decided to take him home,” she stated, warning that citizens shouldn’t have to fear external political interference during health emergencies.
On social media, the TMC chief leveled heavy blame at the opposition, posting on X: “RULERS BECAME KILLERS- shame on you BJP!” Party leaders Firhad Hakim and Derek O’Brien echoed her sentiments, alleging that administrative and medical assessments were being manipulated by political masters.
