Abhishek Banerjee Attacked; Five Arrested, Mamata Alleges Hospital Pressure

Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary and Member of Parliament (MP) Abhishek Banerjee was attacked by a mob in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, on Saturday, May 30, 2026. The incident occurred while he was visiting the residence of a TMC worker, Sanju Pramanik, who was allegedly killed in post-poll violence. According to various reports, Banerjee faced public outrage during his visit, with protesters hurling stones, eggs, and shoes at him. Eyewitnesses and video footage showed the MP being physically manhandled, his shirt torn, and spectacles broken, amidst shouts of 'thief, thief'. Banerjee was reportedly wearing a helmet for protection, which he later claimed saved him from more serious injury. He was escorted out of the area by security personnel. Following the attack, the West Bengal Police launched an investigation, registering a suo motu FIR from Sonarpur Police Station as no formal complaint was lodged by Banerjee initially. Overnight raids were conducted based on video footage, leading to multiple arrests. While The Hindu's headline and report specified 'five arrested', The Indian Express also confirmed 'five people have been formally arrested and taken into custody, while two others have been detained for questioning'. Other reports mentioned 'six held' or 'four arrested' in connection with the incident. These individuals were identified as locals based on video evidence. After the assault, Abhishek Banerjee was taken to two private hospitals in Kolkata for medical examination. However, both institutions reportedly refused to admit him, citing that his injuries were not serious enough to warrant hospitalization. This sparked a strong reaction from TMC chairperson and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Mamata Banerjee publicly alleged that the hospitals were pressured by the police not to admit her nephew. She claimed that 'those in power' (referring to the BJP government) were threatening hospitals and authorities, preventing Abhishek Banerjee from receiving proper medical treatment. She further stated that a hospital administrator informed her about receiving 'threat calls from the police'. Mamata Banerjee questioned why Abhishek was kept in the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) for nearly two hours and advised multiple tests if his condition was not serious, asserting that medical decisions should solely rest with professionals. She also claimed that Abhishek had sustained multiple blunt injuries and blood clots, and that if anything happened to him, the hospitals would be held responsible. Conversely, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) countered these allegations, with West Bengal BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar alleging that Mamata Banerjee herself had pressured a private hospital to admit Abhishek Banerjee despite doctors finding no major injuries. Sarkar shared an audio clip on X (formerly Twitter) purportedly of Mamata Banerjee expressing anger over the hospital's reluctance to admit her nephew, criticizing what he called an 'attempt to misuse medical institutions for political narratives'. Abhishek Banerjee himself accused the BJP of orchestrating the attack, calling it 'BJP-sponsored' and an attempt to kill him. He also raised concerns about a deliberate security lapse, noting the apparent absence of police personnel during the violence. The BJP, while condemning the violence, maintained that the incident was a reflection of public anger against TMC leaders. The attack on Abhishek Banerjee came amidst a period of political turbulence in West Bengal, with other TMC leaders, including MP Kalyan Banerjee, also reportedly facing assaults or harassment. This incident underscores the volatile political landscape in West Bengal, particularly in the aftermath of recent elections, and the ongoing clashes between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read Full Story on Quick Digest