West Bengal: Protesters blocked the convoy of former Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in Halishahar, North 24 Parganas. Protesters reportedly pelted stones at her convoy, surrounded her vehicle, and threw water bottles and shoes at it. During the incident, the protesters shouted slogans accusing the local police of custodial deaths.
Mamata Banerjee was on her way to meet Birju Keot’s family.
Mamata Banerjee had arrived in Halishahar to meet the family of deceased Trinamool Congress worker Birju Keot. Protesters blocked her convoy. The sudden protest created tension at the scene.
Mamata Banerjee alleged that large stones were thrown at her convoy in front of police
. She said that if the car window had been open, she could have suffered serious head injuries and even lost her life.
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee also targeted the state government over the incident and raised questions on the police system.
What is the custodial death case?
Birju Keot recently died under suspicious circumstances. His family alleged that he was beaten and tortured while in police custody. According to the family, he was taken into custody on Friday night. He was found unconscious in police lockup the next day, after which he died.
The deceased’s wife claimed that she had visited her husband in police custody the previous night and that he was in good health at the time. The family alleged that the deceased’s body bore injuries and blood, and that he had been tied up and beaten.
The political atmosphere in Halisahar has heated up following allegations of death in police custody and the alleged attack on Mamata Banerjee’s convoy.