Kalighat Violence: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari orders strict action against attackers

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari clarified on Monday that legal action will be taken against all the accused in the violent clash that took place outside the residence of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee in the Kalighat area of Kolkata. The Chief Minister stated that cases have been registered under appropriate sections of the law against all those who attacked or intimidated police personnel. He assured that a charge sheet would be filed in this matter and the trial would be conducted with the accused in custody. No criminal will be spared.

According to a report by 'The Hindu', a total of 4 FIRs have been registered at the Kalighat police station, which includes two suo motu cases regarding the attack on police personnel. Abhishek Banerjee's name is also included in one FIR in this incident. On Sunday, 8 November, two individuals were arrested on charges of slapping a police officer on duty. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who also holds the Home portfolio, stated that the arrested individuals are not residents of Harish Chatterjee Street, where former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee resides. He questioned what the goons from Iqbalpore were doing there at 2 AM.

The Chief Minister has given strict instructions to the police to arrest every person seen in the video footage. He further stated that legal action will also be taken against the political figures seen in these videos and their leaders after an investigation. Strict measures are being taken against the accused for obstructing police personnel from performing their duties and attacking them. After examining the video footage, cases have been registered against all those whose names have emerged. To maintain peace in the area, the police have also imposed restrictive orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita for two months.

This violent incident occurred when Trinamool Congress supporters gathered to celebrate Abhishek Banerjee's birthday, following which a clash broke out between TMC and BJP workers. Abhishek Banerjee has termed this incident as the seventh life-threatening attack on him in the last six months and has accused BJP supporters. On the other hand, Mamata Banerjee has termed this incident as hooliganism and raised questions on the role of the local police in handling the situation. The BJP has denied all these allegations.

There was a change of power in West Bengal in May, with the Bharatiya Janata Party coming to power, ending the 15-year rule of the TMC. Following this sequence of events, political tension is being witnessed in the state and the investigation process has been intensified by the police administration. The Chief Minister has reiterated that the law will take its own course and no one involved in the violence will be spared, regardless of which party they are associated with.