Abhishek Banerjee's office vandalised, ransacked; TMC leader blames 'BJP goons'

Abhishek Banerjee alleged BJP workers stormed his party office in Kolkata at around 4.30 am, attacked people present there, snatched phones, smashed furniture and damaged electronic equipment.

In Short

• Attackers destroyed electronics, assaulted TMC members
• Abhishek Banerjee blames BJP, targets CM Suvendu Adhikari
• Six people detained; police investigating with CCTV footage

Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday alleged that BJP workers armed with weapons stormed his party office in Kolkata and vandalised the premises. Banerjee said the attackers ransacked the office, destroyed electronic equipment and carried out what he called a "disgraceful assault on the rule of law".

In a social media post, Banerjee also alleged that despite repeated calls and emails from party workers and lawyers, Kolkata Police did not respond for nearly two hours. He described the alleged delay as "outrageous and unacceptable".

"At around 4.30 am, BJP hooligans, armed with weapons, stormed our party office in the heart of Kolkata. They attacked our people, snatched their phones, smashed furniture, ransacked the premises and destroyed electronic equipment," the Trinamool leader said.

Banerjee demanded the immediate arrest of all those involved and sought an investigation into who planned, organised and directed the alleged attack. He also demanded accountability for the alleged police inaction.

Kolkata Police later reached Banerjee's Camac Street office and began an investigation. Police were also retrieving CCTV footage of the incident. Six people were detained and were being questioned, according to the input.

The Trinamool Congress alleged that the vandalism at the Camac Street office was a "well-planned attack". The party claimed that those behind the attack knew Banerjee was not in the city and had left for New Delhi the previous night.

Since its recent electoral defeat in the Assembly polls, the Trinamool Congress has alleged widespread vandalism at party offices and premises across the state.

Sharing footage of his office after the alleged attack, Banerjee wrote, "This is what the BJP has done to my party office in the early hours of this morning." He asked, "Will the Governor of WB act? Will the Union Home Minister act? Will the PMO act? Or will they continue to look the other way?"

Targeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Banerjee asked, "Why are you so scared of the Trinamool Congress and of me that you have to resort to this kind of intimidation?"

He added, "If this is how the Opposition is to be treated in West Bengal, through violence, vandalism and intimidation, then the Chief Minister has no moral authority to remain in office."

The attack also comes amid a bitter factional battle within the TMC, with rival camps seeking to establish their political dominance and organisational control.

- Ends