StatesWest Bengal
Woman detained outside Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat home after alleged knife attempt
Trinamool MP Dola Sen says the woman lunged at the former Chief Minister with a knife on Tuesday evening. Kolkata Police say she was held on the spot.
Key points
- A woman was detained outside Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence on Tuesday evening.
- TMC MP Dola Sen alleged in a police complaint that the woman came at Banerjee with a knife.
- Kolkata Police said "all necessary legal steps" were being taken.
A woman was detained outside former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s home in Kalighat on Tuesday evening after the Trinamool Congress alleged she tried to attack Banerjee with a knife.
Banerjee was leaving her residence at about 6 pm for a Durga Puja pandal in Kalighat when the woman approached her, calling her “pisi” (aunt), according to a complaint filed by TMC MP Dola Sen at Kalighat police station. Sen alleged that the woman, who she said was intoxicated, lunged at Banerjee holding a knife, shouted abuse at the gate and at one point lay down on the street.
Sen said the woman claimed to be a civic volunteer and Banerjee’s niece. Neither claim has been confirmed. Given that Banerjee is a Z-plus protectee, Sen called the incident worrying, suggested it could be a conspiracy, and asked police to study the photographs and video she submitted.
Trinamool leader Saket Gokhale wrote on X that “a drug addict” had reached the residence and tried to attack Banerjee with a knife.
Kunal Agarwal, Additional Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Detective Department), described a sudden appearance by the woman and a heated argument. “The police personnel on duty there immediately detained the woman,” he said. “All necessary legal steps are being taken as per the law.”
Banerjee’s camp disputes that account. It alleges that two officers on duty did nothing to stop the woman and that Kalighat police later served her tea. Police have not said whether a knife was recovered.
Banerjee had returned from Delhi on Monday night after joining INDIA bloc leaders in the protest against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.