A heated confrontation broke out at Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street in Kolkata on Thursday after Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials arrived to remove a billboard allegedly installed without permission.
Civic team cites illegal installation
The civic officials were accompanied by police personnel. Banerjee objected to the move, questioning the legality of the municipal order and alleging that the action was politically motivated.
According to civic officials, the billboard had been installed illegally and the police had complained to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation about it. The officials said they had been instructed to remove the structure.
Police enter office premises
Banerjee, however, questioned why the municipal authorities were targeting his office when several other billboards were allegedly installed along the same stretch. He also accused the BJP and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of political vendetta.
The situation escalated as police and municipal officials attempted to enter the office premises and reach the rooftop, where the billboard was located. Banerjee and his supporters reportedly blocked the way, leading to heated exchanges and scuffles.
Scuffle breaks out inside office
TMC leaders Vaishwanar Chattopadhyay and Derek O’Brien also reached the spot. During the confrontation, O’Brien reportedly fell on the staircase amid the scuffle. Police eventually entered the premises after forcing their way through a locked door and reached the billboard. Officials then began the process of removing the structure.
The confrontation also involved women members of the TMC and women police personnel, with both sides levelling allegations of physical assault and obstruction.
Tension rises on Camac Street
Municipal officials alleged that Banerjee and his associates obstructed government officials from carrying out their duties. The TMC, meanwhile, accused the police of manhandling and harassing its women members.
Speaking at the spot, Banerjee strongly criticised the municipal action and said that the civic authorities had no right to decide what board could be displayed outside his office.
He also said his party would approach the Calcutta High Court over the police action, alleging that the authorities were acting selectively. The incident triggered tension on Camac Street, with additional police personnel deployed around the office as the billboard removal operation continued.
