Kolkata, Sept. 3 -- Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the BJP-led state government of unleashing "atrocities" against Trinamool Congress workers and warned that she would march to Delhi and stage a dharna outside BJP leaders' residences if the alleged persecution continued.
In a Facebook Live address, Banerjee claimed nearly 4,000 TMC offices had been "forcibly occupied or looted" and over 14,000 cases registered against party workers. She alleged incidents of violence and police action across several districts, including Cooch Behar, Bankura, Howrah, Hooghly, Birbhum, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and the two 24-Parganas.
Referring to the alleged midnight raid on TMC's Camac Street office, she claimed computers, documents and records were ransacked, and four people were confined and tortured. "Party documenting the actions of police stations and individuals," she said. Banerjee also accused the police of acting as "predators" rather than protectors, citing alleged custodial deaths, illegal detention and cases involving minors. She claimed youths in Bankura had been prevented from travelling to Garbeta to visit relatives.
The TMC chief further alleged that press freedom was under threat, citing alleged action against Anandabazar Patrika's office following its report on the Jadavpur University incident, as well as action against digital teams and social media accounts.
She also accused the government of targeting students and educational institutions, citing alleged incidents at Jadavpur, Presidency and Barasat universities.
"If these atrocities do not stop," Banerjee said, she would march to Delhi and, if necessary, stage a dharna outside BJP leaders' residences.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.