Mamata calls Baruipur unrest public outburst, claims 'house arrest'

Kolkata, July 5 -- Describing the unrest in Baruipur following the alleged rape and murder of a minor as a collective outburst of people whose patience had finally snapped after prolonged tolerance of such incidents, Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Sunday asserted that she had never supported violence or riots and alleged that she had been unofficially placed under house arrest after heavy deployment of police and central forces outside her Kalighat residence thwarted her bid to visit the victim's family.

According to party sources, more than 10 police vehicles were stationed along the narrow lane outside the residences of Mamata Banerjee and the party's national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, while central forces carried out a route march in the area.

Reacting to the deployment, Mamata Banerjee said she had been deeply worried after learning about the incident and had only wanted to meet the bereaved family.

"I was worried since I came to know about the incident. Earlier, several women were raped in places like Potashpur, Bhagawanpur, Midnapore, Behala and Panihati. What has happened in Baruipur is because people's patience has snapped after tolerating such incidents for long. I have never supported violence or riots. I only wanted to go alone and meet the mourning family. Was that so unnatural? Instead, they have unofficially placed me under house arrest. Then why was there a need for such a heavy deployment of police and central forces outside my house? There isn't even a Section 144 order in this area and the central forces are route marching outside," she said.

Later in the day, Mamata Banerjee spoke to the victim's family over the phone.

The deployment drew sharp reactions from Trinamool leaders. MP Mahua Moitra alleged that Mamata Banerjee had been prevented from travelling to Baruipur to meet the victim's family, saying, "A seven-term MP, former Union Minister and three-term Chief Minister has been put under house arrest."

Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose questioned the heavy police deployment and route march outside Mamata Banerjee's residence, alleging that "instead of restoring law and order, the BJP is trying to muzzle the Opposition."

Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien termed the scenes outside the Kalighat residence "alarming" and alleged that central forces were "restricting freedom of movement and confining them to their homes."

The Trinamool Congress also alleged that the heavy deployment was aimed at preventing Mamata Banerjee from visiting Baruipur. In a post on X, the party reiterated its demand for "Justice for Baruipur" and said its chairperson stood firmly with the victim's family.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.