Hooghly: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Kunal Ghosh’s car was allegedly attacked with stones and eggs in Uttarpara, Hooghly, on Saturday while he was travelling to Serampore to attend a rally addressed by party chief Mamata Banerjee. The attack damaged the vehicle’s rear windshield and forced Ghosh to turn back towards Kolkata.
According to reports, a group of people carrying black flags stopped Ghosh’s vehicle and surrounded it. Videos from the incident showed people banging on the car and throwing eggs and stones while raising slogans asking the MLA to “go back”. The identities of those involved have not been established so far.
Ghosh said the attackers blocked his route and targeted his vehicle with stones and eggs. He also alleged that there were no police personnel at the spot at the time of the incident. After the attack, he said he was returning to Kolkata and would lodge a complaint at Lalbazar or Bhawani Bhawan.
The incident has triggered a fresh political confrontation in West Bengal. TMC leaders alleged that the attack was linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). TMC leader Asit Majumdar described it as a pre planned attack. However, Uttarpara BJP MLA Dipanjan Chakraborty rejected the allegation and characterised the incident as a spontaneous response from members of the public. Police have not established who was responsible for the attack.
The attack took place as Mamata Banerjee was scheduled to address a TMC gathering in Serampore. The rally itself had been preceded by a dispute over permission for the event, with the Calcutta High Court permitting the programme subject to conditions, including restrictions connected with the venue and surrounding traffic arrangements.
The latest incident also comes against the backdrop of earlier egg throwing incidents involving TMC leaders. In June, Ghosh was targeted with an egg outside Banerjee’s Kalighat residence. Kolkata Police subsequently arrested two men in connection with that incident, and both were granted bail, according to reports.
As of Saturday afternoon, there was no confirmed identification of those who attacked Ghosh’s vehicle in Uttarpara, and the competing claims over their political affiliation remained unverified.
ALSO READ: IIT Bombay Student Sahil Wakode’s Parents Begin Hunger Strike In Mumbai
-
-
-
-
