5 arrested, 2 detained for heckling TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in Bengal's Sonarpur

FIve persons were arrested and ii detained by constabulary during overnight raids for allegedly barracking and manhandling Trinamool united states congress (TMC) subject general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in South 24 Parganas district’s Sonarpur on Saturday afternoon, police said.“Seven persons were detained based on security camera and news footage of the mob attack on Banerjee. Five of them were arrested after questioning,” a police officer said, requesting anonymity.Banerjee on Saturday sustained minor injuries after he was attacked with stones and eggs in West Bengal’s Sonarpur, where he had gone to meet the families of post-poll violence victims.Several people were seen roughing up the leader amid intense sloganeering against Banerjee and his aunt, former chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Some reportedly tried to attack Banerjee by raining blows and kicks on him, prompting intervention by security personnel. A large contingent of district police, accompanied by armed central forces, later escorted the TMC leader out.Police registered a suo motu case after Saturday’s incident, which the TMC described as an attempt to murder the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member.Union minister and former state Bharatiya Janata Party president Sukanta Majumdar said that the arrestees were identified as TMC workers.“We have come to know that the accused are TMC workers and known to be close to Lovely Maitra. Let the police investigate,” Majumdar said, referring to the former TMC MLA from the local Sonarpur South seat.Maitra refuted the charge. “Several women who are active BJP workers were involved in the attack. BJP is trying to project a planned attack as an outburst of dissent by local people,” Maitra said.TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said, “Police have done the right thing by arresting these people even if they are former TMC workers. But why haven’t all those involved in the attack been arrested? Television footage showed stones being hurled at Abhishek.”Meanwhile, Banerjee was examined at two private hospitals and discharged. Doctors said he had bruises on his chest but did not require admission.“They want to kill me. Let them kill me. Let my dead body be recovered from here. But I won’t quit and abandon Karmakar’s parents. Ask the police to send in reinforcements. Send the police a WhatsApp message to keep a record. I am drawing the attention of the Calcutta High Court and the Governor. There were no police personnel there. I would move the high court,” Banerjee said while speaking to media persons seated at Karmakar’s residence.TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee said: “Now people are being denied treatment. Hospitals are under threat... He will undergo treatment at home... If he didn’t wear helmet.... He would have died on the spot.”She added that she would hit the streets from June 2 with a rally in central Kolkata.