Bulldozer action outside Abhishek Banerjee's Kolkata residence, bamboo structure removed

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Thursday removed a makeshift bamboo structure outside Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee's residence in the Kalighat area of Kolkata, with civic officials saying it was obstructing pedestrians using the footpath.

A team of KMC officials arrived at the Diamond Harbour MP's residence with a bulldozer in the morning and dismantled the temporary structure. A large contingent of central forces was deployed outside the house before the civic body's action.

According to civic officials, the structure had been erected on the footpath and was causing inconvenience to local residents and pedestrians. The removal came amid heightened security and political tensions in the neighbourhood following clashes between TMC and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters outside Banerjee's residence earlier this month.

Clashes outside Abhishek Banerjee's house on his birthday

The civic body's action came days after violence broke out outside Banerjee's Kalighat residence during celebrations marking his 39th birthday. The confrontation between TMC workers and alleged BJP supporters began with an altercation and escalated into physical clashes and stone-pelting.

Banerjee alleged that there had been an attempt on his life and accused BJP supporters of vandalising a nearby TMC office. He also claimed that his supporters were attacked outside his residence. According to police, several people from both sides were injured in the incident.

Reports said at least eight people sustained injuries during the clashes, with police personnel also facing allegations of being assaulted while attempting to control the situation. Police subsequently intervened to disperse the rival groups.

Following the violence, Banerjee staged a sit-in protest outside his residence, demanding action over the incident. The Diamond Harbour MP also got into an argument with police personnel on duty after they asked him to move away from the spot, warning that his continued presence could lead to a further escalation of tensions.

The police registered four FIRs in connection with the clashes, including cases lodged by the rival sides and two initiated suo motu. Three TMC supporters were arrested on November 8, while the investigation was subsequently taken over by the Kolkata Police's Detective Department. Police also conducted a reconstruction of the sequence of events at the site on November 10.

Mamata Banerjee challenges BJP over bulldozer action

Former West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had strongly condemned the alleged attack on her nephew's residence, daring the BJP to use bulldozers against her.

Speaking amid the tensions in the Kalighat neighbourhood, Mamata accused BJP supporters, allegedly accompanied by police personnel, of targeting Abhishek's residence in the early hours. She also alleged police harassment and restrictions in the locality.

"How many bulldozers do you have? Bring them all. If you have the courage, come and run your bulldozers over my body. I am standing right here... Run your bulldozer over my chest if you dare," she had said.

Mamata vowed to continue speaking out against what she described as atrocities and intimidation, alleging that the incident reflected a broader atmosphere of lawlessness in the state.

The latest civic action comes against the backdrop of competing allegations by the BJP and TMC over the birthday clashes, with the violence and the subsequent police response triggering a political confrontation in West Bengal.