Trinamool Congress national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee has accused Kolkata Police personnel of conducting surveillance outside his residence, raising concerns that another attack could be planned against him. The allegation has added to the political tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal following a clash outside his Kolkata home on November 7.
In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, November 11, Banerjee claimed that police personnel were once again keeping watch around his residence while using official vehicles. He alleged that the activity amounted to surveillance and an attempt to gather information about him. He also questioned why the BJP-led government was allegedly afraid of his voice.
Banerjee said a similar reconnaissance operation had taken place in the days before the November 7 incident. According to his account, unidentified individuals had been observing his residence and office before a group of people allegedly attacked his home. He expressed concern that the renewed surveillance could be linked to preparations for another attack.
The TMC leader also questioned the police response to the earlier incident. He said four days had passed since the attack, but those he described as the perpetrators had not been arrested. His statement raised questions about the investigation and the steps being taken to prevent further violence.
What Happened Outside Abhishek Banerjee's Residence?
The controversy began in the early hours of November 7, when a confrontation broke out outside Banerjee's residence in the Kalighat area of Kolkata. Trinamool Congress supporters had gathered near the house to celebrate his birthday. The situation reportedly became tense after a group of people raised slogans, leading to arguments and clashes between supporters associated with the two political parties.
Banerjee alleged that BJP supporters were responsible for the attack and claimed that his residence was targeted at around 2 am. He also accused the attackers of damaging banners and other materials outside the property. The TMC leader shared videos on social media, claiming that they showed the incident and the people involved.
He described the episode as another attempt on his life and claimed that it was the seventh such attempt in six months. However, this figure and the alleged motive were claims made by Banerjee and have not been independently established.
Reports about the confrontation said that stones and other objects were allegedly thrown during the clash. Some Trinamool supporters reportedly suffered injuries. Banerjee also questioned the role of the police, alleging that personnel present at the location had failed to prevent the violence.
The incident triggered a political exchange between the TMC and the BJP, with both sides offering sharply different accounts of what happened outside the residence.
BJP Rejects the Allegations
The BJP rejected Banerjee's allegations regarding the November 7 incident. BJP leaders dismissed his claims and described the controversy as politically motivated. The party also questioned the circumstances surrounding the gathering outside his residence.
West Bengal BJP leader Dilip Ghosh reportedly criticised the TMC leader's statements, suggesting that the incident was being used to create a political narrative. The BJP's response contrasted with Banerjee's accusation that party supporters were involved in the attack.
The competing claims have made the incident a fresh point of confrontation between the two parties. While the TMC has accused the BJP of targeting its senior leader, the BJP has denied responsibility for the alleged attack.
Arrests and Police Investigation
The investigation into the November 7 violence has also become part of the political dispute. Reports published after the incident said that Kolkata Police registered multiple First Information Reports in connection with the clashes. Three Trinamool Congress supporters were arrested on November 8, and four FIRs were reported to have been registered in connection with the incident.
The reported arrests need to be distinguished from Banerjee's latest allegation. His statement on November 11 was that the people he considers responsible for attacking his residence had not been arrested. The arrests reported earlier involved TMC supporters, and their alleged roles were being examined as part of the police investigation. Therefore, the arrests do not by themselves establish who was responsible for initiating the violence or whether the individuals accused by Banerjee have been identified.
The investigation is expected to examine the sequence of events, the conduct of those involved and the circumstances that led to the confrontation. The police findings will be important in establishing responsibility rather than relying on allegations made by either political party.
Banerjee Questions the Use of Police Personnel
In his latest statement, Banerjee questioned whether the police force was being used to protect citizens or to intimidate political leaders who criticise the government. He alleged that official vehicles were being used to monitor his residence and asked why such activity was taking place.
He also linked his concerns to broader issues of law and order in West Bengal. Banerjee questioned the government's response to crimes in the state, including cases of alleged sexual violence, and accused the authorities of focusing on him instead of addressing public safety concerns.
The TMC leader further alleged that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had not intervened despite his repeated complaints. He questioned the lack of action on the concerns he had raised and called attention to the security of an elected Member of Parliament.
These statements remain Banerjee's allegations. The available reports do not independently establish that Kolkata Police personnel were conducting unlawful surveillance or that another attack was being planned.
Political Tensions Continue in West Bengal
The latest allegations have intensified the political confrontation between the TMC and the BJP in West Bengal. Banerjee is one of the most prominent leaders of the Trinamool Congress and represents the Diamond Harbour constituency in the Lok Sabha. His accusations have therefore attracted attention beyond the immediate incident in Kalighat.
The November 7 clash also drew attention because it occurred outside the residence of a senior political leader and involved supporters associated with rival parties. The incident raised questions about political mobilisation, public order and the responsibility of law enforcement agencies during confrontations between party workers.
For now, the central issues remain the alleged surveillance outside Banerjee's residence, the violence reported on November 7 and the progress of the police investigation. The claims made by the TMC leader and the BJP's denial will need to be assessed alongside the findings of the authorities.
Banerjee's latest warning that another attack could take place has added urgency to the debate over his security. Whether the alleged surveillance occurred as he described and whether it was connected to the earlier clash will depend on further evidence and the outcome of the investigation.
