The investigation into the attack on Trinamool Congress national general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee has opened up a fresh political controversy in West Bengal after several of the accused arrested in connection with the incident were allegedly found to have close links with a former Trinamool Congress legislator.
What initially appeared to be a violent protest during Banerjee’s visit to violence-hit Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas has now evolved into a larger political battle, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that the incident exposes deep fissures within the Trinamool Congress itself.
The development comes at a time when the TMC has accused BJP workers of orchestrating an assassination attempt on Abhishek Banerjee, while the BJP has countered by questioning the political affiliations of those arrested by the police.
Attack During Visit to Violence-Hit Sonarpur
The incident occurred when Abhishek Banerjee visited Sonarpur to meet families allegedly affected by post-election violence.
During the visit, chaos erupted as stones, eggs and shoes were allegedly hurled at the TMC leader by a group of protesters. Videos from the scene showed security personnel struggling to control the crowd while attempts were reportedly made to physically confront Banerjee.
The TMC leader sustained minor injuries during the incident and later expressed anger over what he described as a serious lapse in security arrangements.
Banerjee subsequently alleged that the attackers intended to kill him and claimed that law enforcement agencies failed to act despite advance inputs regarding possible disturbances during the visit.
The incident immediately triggered political uproar across the state, with TMC leaders condemning the attack and demanding stringent action against those responsible.
Five Arrested, Two Detained
West Bengal Police moved swiftly after the incident and launched an extensive investigation using CCTV footage, video recordings and eyewitness accounts.
Investigators have so far arrested five individuals and detained two others for questioning.
The arrested accused have been identified as:
Tapan Maity
Akash Gayen
Kajal Das
Debasish Dutta
Nirmalya Sengupta, popularly known as Joy
Police officials are examining the precise role played by each accused during the violence and whether the attack was spontaneous or pre-planned.
Investigators are also probing possible political affiliations and local networks connected to those arrested.
Alleged Links to Former TMC MLA Surface
The investigation took a politically sensitive turn after reports emerged suggesting that several of the arrested accused had close ties to former Sonarpur South MLA Lovely Maitra.
According to reports citing investigative sources, Tapan Maity and Nirmalya “Joy” Sengupta were allegedly known associates of Maitra. Kajal Das and Debasish Dutta were also reportedly linked to the former legislator.
The allegations have become a major point of contention because the TMC has consistently maintained that BJP workers were behind the attack.
The emergence of alleged links between the arrested individuals and a former TMC leader has prompted BJP leaders to question whether the violence was truly orchestrated by their party, as claimed by Trinamool Congress.
Sukanta Majumdar Raises Questions
Senior BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar was among the first to highlight the alleged political backgrounds of the accused.
He questioned the TMC’s narrative and argued that the arrests themselves pointed towards a more complicated political reality than what the ruling party had initially claimed.
The BJP has maintained that the attack reflected local anger and factional tensions rather than a coordinated political conspiracy orchestrated by the opposition.
Party leaders have accused the Trinamool Congress of attempting to use the incident for political mileage while ignoring the backgrounds of those arrested.
Lovely Maitra Rejects Allegations
Former TMC MLA Lovely Maitra has strongly denied any connection with the incident or the accused.
Rejecting the BJP’s allegations, Maitra claimed that several women visible during the protests were known BJP workers.
She accused the BJP of attempting to divert attention from the incident by portraying public anger as an internal Trinamool Congress matter.
Maitra insisted that efforts were being made to manipulate the narrative and shift blame away from those she believes were actually responsible for the attack.
Her response has further intensified the political battle surrounding the case.
Family of Key Accused Claims Innocence
Another twist in the case emerged after the family of Nirmalya Sengupta, popularly known as Joy, publicly defended him.
According to family members, Sengupta has been associated with the Trinamool Congress since 1998 and has remained loyal to the party throughout changing political circumstances in the region.
They denied allegations that he was involved in the attack and claimed he had been falsely implicated.
The family also rejected suggestions that Sengupta harboured any hostility toward Abhishek Banerjee.
Instead, they claimed that he had allegedly advised Banerjee against visiting the area because of prevailing tensions and concerns over law and order.
These claims are now being examined as part of the broader investigation.
Abhishek Banerjee Alleges Attempt on His Life
In the aftermath of the incident, Abhishek Banerjee made strong remarks regarding the nature of the attack.
The TMC MP alleged that the assailants intended to kill him and vowed to raise the matter before constitutional authorities, including the Governor and the judiciary.
He also criticised the police response, claiming that despite prior information regarding possible unrest, adequate preventive measures had not been taken.
Banerjee’s allegations have added further gravity to the case, transforming it from a local law-and-order issue into a major political flashpoint in West Bengal.
New Questions Emerge as Investigation Continues
With the arrest of five accused and reports of alleged links to former TMC functionaries, the investigation has entered a crucial phase.
Police are continuing to analyse CCTV footage, mobile phone records, social media activity and eyewitness accounts to establish the motive behind the attack and identify any larger conspiracy.
The emerging revelations have complicated the political narrative surrounding the incident and raised fresh questions about whether the violence was the result of opposition mobilisation, local factional rivalries, public anger or a combination of multiple factors.
As investigators work to uncover the full truth behind the attack, the Sonarpur incident has become one of the most politically charged controversies in West Bengal, with rival parties continuing to trade accusations over who was truly responsible for the violence directed at one of the state’s most prominent political leaders.
