Police Arrest Six in Bengal Over Attack on Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee

Kolkata (IANS): Police on Sunday arrested six people for attacking and harassing Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur, located in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district.

Protesters heckled and attacked Banerjee on Saturday when he visited the family of a deceased Trinamool worker in Sonarpur. He faced public outrage along the way as a section of the crowd threw eggs and brick fragments at him and shouted “thief” slogans.

The Trinamool leader, nephew of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, faced harassment while walking to the worker’s house. Protesters heckled him and tried to punch him, even as security personnel protected him.

The incident raised serious questions about police security. Following an investigation, the police confirmed the arrest of six individuals.

The Sonarpur police station conducted an overnight search operation in the area and examined video footage of the attack.

Initial reports indicate that police identified and arrested the six locals based on that video footage, which placed them at the scene during the attack. The police are currently interrogating the suspects to identify other individuals involved in the incident. Police forces also continue to patrol the area.

“We carried out a search operation at night and arrested six people by Sunday morning. The investigation continues,” a police official said.

After leaving the area under police escort, Abhishek Banerjee visited a private hospital along the EM Bypass in Kolkata. Doctors provided primary treatment but saw no need to admit him. When he later went to another private hospital near Minto Park, doctors there repeated the advice. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accompanied Abhishek at the hospital.

Mamata Banerjee lashed out against the BJP government regarding the incident. “For now, he will receive treatment at home. We will administer the necessary saline and oxygen at home. If necessary, we will take Abhishek to Hyderabad for treatment,” she said.