Protesters surrounded the vehicle of Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee and hurled stones, mud, and footwear at her car on Sunday [1].
The incident highlights escalating tensions in West Bengal following the custodial death of a party worker, reflecting deep volatility between local political factions.
Banerjee, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal, was visiting the home of the deceased worker in Halisahar, located in the North 24 Parganas district [2]. During the visit, a crowd converged on her convoy, surrounding the SUV and throwing various objects at the vehicle [3]. While some reports specify the location as Kanchrapara, other sources identify the site as Halisahar [2].
Banerjee described the severity of the attack and the potential for fatal injury. "My head would have exploded. I could have died here," she said [1]. She said that "large stones were hurled at my car" [2].
The attack occurred amid demonstrations over the custodial death of a Trinamool Congress worker. Banerjee said the police and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were implementing an "iron-fist" rule in the region [1].
The BJP denied any involvement in the unrest. "We condemn this incident; no BJP member was involved," a party spokesperson said [4].
Local reports indicate the objects thrown included mud and slippers, though the former Chief Minister emphasized the presence of large stones [1, 3]. The security detail managed to move the vehicle from the scene as the crowd continued to protest the death of the party worker [2].
“"My head would have exploded. I could have died here."”
This attack underscores the fragile security environment in West Bengal, where political disputes often manifest as physical violence. By linking the unrest to both the police and the BJP, Banerjee is framing the custodial death and the subsequent attack as part of a broader systemic crackdown on her party's influence in the North 24 Parganas district.
