Fresh tension broke out outside Abhishek Banerjee’s residence in Kolkata’s Kalighat area on Saturday, a day after clashes between supporters of the Trinamool Congress leader and local BJP workers led to injuries, stone-throwing and police intervention. Mamata Banerjee, who came out of the residence during the renewed confrontation, criticised the police and demanded the resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda, according to Anandabazar.
The latest dispute began after supporters gathered near a temporary shelter outside Banerjee’s home in Patuyapara with flowers and garlands. A cake-cutting event had reportedly been planned near the shelter at around 3 pm. According to the report, police told supporters that such activities could not be held on the road, after which an argument developed between the group and officers and escalated into pushing and scuffling.
Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee came out after hearing about the confrontation. Mamata Banerjee asked visitors to use the left side of the road while the right side remained open for vehicles. She also said that people should be allowed to greet Abhishek Banerjee, while alleging that some people were being sent after being offered inducements. The report did not include an independent police response to those allegations.
The incident came after several rounds of clashes in Kalighat from Friday night. The reported confrontation involved Abhishek Banerjee’s supporters and local BJP workers and supporters. The dispute included verbal arguments, physical scuffles and stone-throwing. Abhishek Banerjee alleged that his party office had also been vandalised. Police sources cited by Anandabazar said several people from both sides were injured and that police used batons to disperse the groups.
Abhishek Banerjee began a sit-in outside his residence on Friday night after the clashes and argued with police officers at the site. He alleged that BJP supporters had attacked people with sticks fitted with nails and said that four or five of his supporters had suffered serious injuries. He also said he had warned of a possible attack in a social-media post two days earlier and had tagged the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Police intervention continued into Saturday morning. According to the report, Abhishek Banerjee entered his residence at around 6.30 am after police involvement. Prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 had been imposed outside the house following the previous night’s violence, but the area again saw a confrontation during the day.
Mamata Banerjee directly criticised the officer-in-charge of Kalighat police station, Balai Bag, and warned him to take care of the station, home and family. She also accused the police of obstructing the group’s activities and said legal action would be taken if such obstruction continued. She separately demanded the resignation of Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda, referring to the resignation of former commissioner Vineet Goyal and questioning what she described as a failure of moral duty.
The dispute has also raised concerns about movement and business in the area. Mamata Banerjee said Kalighat’s Patuyapara attracts people who come to buy idols and asked that local commerce not be disrupted. She assured traders that they could continue their businesses while directing authorities to manage pedestrian and vehicle movement around the residence and the surrounding streets.
The immediate next steps are expected to centre on maintaining security around Abhishek Banerjee’s residence, managing gatherings and investigating the clashes and injuries reported from Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The source report did not provide details of arrests, formal charges or a public response from the Kolkata Police Commissioner.
