A security breach involving former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was alleged outside her residence in Kolkata’s Kalighat area on Tuesday evening, after a young woman reportedly reached the gate, attempted to approach her as she was leaving and was found carrying a knife.
According to a report by Sangbad Pratidin, the woman was detained by Kalighat Trinamool Congress workers and leaders before being handed over to police. She was taken to Kalighat police station, where investigators were attempting to establish her identity and the circumstances in which she reached the residence.
The incident reportedly occurred as Banerjee was leaving her home to inaugurate a Durga Puja at Kalighat Milan Sangha. The report said the woman introduced herself as the politician’s niece and managed to reach the gate of the house. When Banerjee came out, the woman allegedly moved towards her and pulled at her sari before people present at the spot restrained her and brought her to the ground.
A knife was allegedly recovered from the woman. The report also identified her provisionally as a civic volunteer and said she was suspected of being under the influence of drugs. These details had not been independently confirmed in the supplied account, and the woman’s identity was not known at the time of publication.
Kalighat Trinamool Congress members filed a written complaint at the police station after the incident. The report did not provide a police statement confirming the alleged attack, the recovery of the knife or the woman’s employment status. Police detained her and began inquiries into her identity and the events outside the residence.
Banerjee had returned to her Kalighat home the previous day after a programme in Delhi. She subsequently attended the Durga Puja inauguration despite the alleged incident, according to the report.
The episode has again raised questions within the local Trinamool Congress organisation about the security arrangements around Banerjee’s residence. The report said Banerjee previously had Z-plus security cover. Following her defeat in the Assembly election, the security provided to her was described as being governed by the protocol applicable to a former chief minister.
Trinamool Congress leader Dola Sen also raised questions about Banerjee’s security after the incident, the report said. The immediate police inquiry is expected to establish the detained woman’s identity, whether she was carrying a knife and how she reached the residence before being stopped.
