A political controversy erupted in West Bengal on Sunday evening after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged that a heavy police deployment outside the residence of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee was aimed at preventing her from visiting the family of a child who was allegedly raped and murdered in South 24 Parganas’ Baruipur.
Senior TMC leader and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien claimed that more than 10 police vehicles had been deliberately stationed in the narrow lane outside Mamata Banerjee’s residence to block her movement.
In a post on X, O’Brien alleged, “For hours now, ten-plus police cars deliberately parked in the narrow lane just outside the house of Mamata Banerjee. The devious ploy is to jam the lane and prevent her from leaving her home to visit the family of the child brutally raped and murdered in Baruipur.”
Sharing visuals of the police deployment, the TMC leader in another post wrote, “Alarming visuals from the same lane outside the homes of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee in Kalighat. Why are central forces being deployed to restrict freedom of movement and confine them to their homes. Route march happening now. Confinement using force!”
The TMC leader described the alleged move as an attempt to obstruct Banerjee’s planned visit to the victim’s family.
The incident comes amid heightened political tensions in West Bengal, with the alleged rape and murder of the child in Baruipur triggering strong reactions and demands for justice from political parties. However, it remains unclear whether Banerjee’s visit to the victim’s family was delayed or prevented due to the security arrangements.
TMC Attacks BJP
Attacking the BJP government, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the party fosters a climate where those accused of heinous crimes appear to believe they enjoy political protection. The TMC MP further termed BJP’s promise of providing safety and security to women in Bengal on coming to power as “hollow” and said, “When justice becomes selective and outrage becomes political, it is not only the victim who suffers, it is society that pays the price.”
Taking to X, he wrote, “BJP doesn’t just fail women, it fosters a climate where those accused of heinous crimes appear to believe they enjoy political protection. Where political connections seem to influence justice.
Where influence appears to speak louder than the rule of law. Where disturbing questions arise over whether political pressure is overshadowing the pursuit of justice. That is the real tragedy behind the Baruipur horror!”
Reacting on the police deployment, TMC MP Sagrika Ghosh accused the BJP government in the state of confining Mamata Banerjee to her home in Bengal.
“Bizarre. Why is former CM Mamata Banerjee being confined to her home by the BJP government in Bengal? An 11-year-old girl has been brutally raped and killed in Baruipur, why is Mamata Banerjee being stopped from visiting the family?”
TMC MP Mahua Moitra also reacted to the incident and wrote, “Watch this- 7 term MP, Cabinet Minister, 3 term CM been put under house arrest by BJP to to not let her travel to Baruipur to meet the young rape victim. Shame Bengal!”
12-Year-Old Raped & Murdered In Bengal’s Baruipur
The body of a 12-year-old girl was recovered on Sunday morning from a pond near her home at Baruipur in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, a day after she was allegedly kidnapped and raped. Following the incident, angry mob lynched a man on rape-murder charges, police said.
An FIR has been registered in the matter and police have launched an investigation.
The girl’s body was found stuffed in a sack in Surjyapur Haat area this morning, triggering a protest by locals who blocked the Baruipur-Joynagar Road, burnt tyres and damaged a few police vehicles, demanding the arrest of the accused persons, news agency PTI reported.
The police said four people were arrested in connection with the girl’s death.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari spoke to the deceased girl’s father over the phone and assured him that the culprits would be dealt with in the strictest manner and punished according to the law, PTI reported.