TMC alleges police tried to stop Mamata Banerjee’s Baruipur visit; BJP rejects charge
A political row erupted in West Bengal after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged that heavy deployment of state police and central forces outside former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence was aimed at preventing her from visiting the family of the 11-year-old girl allegedly raped and murdered in Baruipur.
Police personnel, central forces and several vehicles remained stationed outside Banerjee's residence since Sunday night. TMC leaders questioned the need for such extensive security arrangements, claiming they were intended to stop the party chief from travelling to the violence-hit South 24 Parganas district.
Senior TMC leaders alleged that the deployment was an attempt to restrict Banerjee's movement and prevent her from meeting the victim's family. The allegations were first raised on Sunday by party leaders, including MLA Kunal Ghosh and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, who criticised the presence of barricades and security vehicles outside her residence.
The TMC described the deployment as an attempt to intimidate the opposition at a time when public anger over the Baruipur incident remains high.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, rejected the allegations, maintaining that the security deployment was part of standard arrangements for a Z-plus category protectee. State minister Dilip Ghosh dismissed the TMC's claims, saying there was no attempt to prevent Banerjee from travelling.
Referring to the Baruipur case, Ghosh said the police had already taken action against those responsible and assured that the accused would face strict punishment.
The controversy comes amid widespread outrage over the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl whose body was recovered from the Surjyapur Haat area in Baruipur after she went missing. The body was found stuffed inside a sack, triggering violent protests by local residents who blocked roads, burnt tyres and vandalised police vehicles demanding swift justice.
The unrest escalated further when a mob allegedly lynched a man suspected of involvement in the crime. Police have so far arrested four persons in connection with the case and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. Prohibitory orders remain in force in parts of South 24 Parganas as authorities continue efforts to maintain law and order.
