Trinamool Congress, under the leadership of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has lodged a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Calcutta High Court to halt the targeting of party leaders and workers. The petition, presented before the division bench led by Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty, was filed by lawyer Prabhanya Banerjee, who has urged for an urgent hearing scheduled for Tuesday. The party has accused assailants of orchestrating attacks on two MLAs, Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra, as well as three MPs, Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee, and Derek O’Brien, while also alleging assaults on party members and destruction of party premises statewide.
Trinamool Congress highlighted specific incidents in the PIL, including assaults on its members post the state Assembly elections. Notably, Trinamool General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and MP Kalyan Banerjee were targeted in separate attacks in different districts. The party also cited instances where Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra faced assaults by egg-throwers, with their vehicles being damaged. Moreover, the petition raised concerns over the treatment of arrested Trinamool leaders, objecting to the practice of making them walk on streets with ropes around their waists and in innerwear.
The PIL further mentioned the trend of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, activists, and locals pelting arrested Trinamool members with eggs during their transfer to police stations or courts. In response to these incidents, police have resorted to placing helmets on the heads of detained Trinamool leaders. Consequently, Trinamool Congress has sought legal recourse by approaching the High Court to address these challenges.
