Knife-carrying woman detained after allegedly trying to approach Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata

A woman allegedly carrying a knife was detained after she attempted to approach former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in a threatening manner during a Durga Puja inauguration near her residence in Kolkata's Kalighat area on Tuesday evening, police said.

The incident allegedly occurred around 6 pm when Banerjee visited the Milan Sangha Puja pandal in her neighbourhood. A complaint filed by All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) leader and former Rajya Sabha member Dola Sen alleged that the woman was hurling abuses and behaving aggressively while attempting to move towards Banerjee. A senior police officer confirmed that the woman had been detained for questioning and that investigators were examining video footage to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲

According to Sen's complaint, the accused woman, whose name was mentioned in the document, was known in the locality as a civic volunteer and was allegedly struggling with drug addiction. Sen claimed that the woman appeared intoxicated, used abusive language and attempted to approach Banerjee violently while carrying a knife.

The complaint further alleged that the woman claimed to be Banerjee's niece and subsequently lay on the road, creating a disturbance while continuing her attempts to approach the AITC leader. Sen expressed concern that an individual allegedly carrying a weapon could get so close to the residence of a person provided with Z-plus category security.

Describing the incident as a serious security concern, Sen urged the police to investigate whether the woman's actions were spontaneous or part of a larger conspiracy. She submitted photographs and video footage with her complaint and requested the authorities to examine the material before initiating appropriate legal proceedings.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Sen asked the police to take cognisance of the matter under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which governs the recording of information relating to cognisable offences. She maintained that the alleged presence of a knife and the woman's conduct warranted a thorough investigation, particularly given the security arrangements surrounding Banerjee.

The complaint also sought examination of photographs and video recordings to determine the sequence of events and establish whether there had been any deliberate attempt to breach the security cordon. The allegations concerning the woman's identity, alleged intoxication and possession of a weapon have not been independently established.

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲

A senior police officer said investigators were questioning the detained woman to understand the reasons behind her behaviour. Police were also reviewing video footage of the incident and planned to speak to witnesses who were present near the puja pandal.

The officer said the inquiry would focus on establishing what happened, whether the woman was carrying a weapon and whether her conduct posed an actual threat to Banerjee. Police had not announced any conclusion regarding the woman's motive or the possibility of a conspiracy.

The incident has raised questions about security arrangements during public appearances by high-profile political leaders, particularly at religious and cultural events where large crowds gather and access routes can be difficult to control.

𝗚𝗼𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

AITC leader Saket Gokhale described the development as shocking and alleged in a post on X that a woman with a knife had reached Banerjee's residence and attempted to attack her. He questioned how such an incident could occur despite the security provided to Banerjee, a three-time chief minister and Z-plus category protectee.

Gokhale also raised the possibility of a political conspiracy, questioning whether the incident had any connection with the Bharatiya Janata Party and referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. However, he provided no evidence linking the BJP or any political leader to the woman's alleged actions, and police have not established any such connection.

The allegations have added a political dimension to an incident that remains under investigation. Police are expected to examine the available footage, witness accounts and the detained woman's statements before determining whether criminal charges are warranted.

The investigation will also seek to establish whether there was any lapse in security arrangements during Banerjee's visit to the Durga Puja pandal.