TMC, BJP Workers Clash in Southeast Kolkata Over Party Office Control; Several Injured

TMC and BJP Workers Clash in Mukundapur

A confrontation between supporters of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress faction and the BJP broke out in Mukundapur in southeast Kolkata over control of a local party office.

The clash took place on Tuesday, September 22, and continued to draw attention on Wednesday after several people were reportedly injured. Police intervened and used a baton charge to disperse the rival groups. Several TMC workers were reportedly hospitalised following the violence.

Both parties have accused the other side of provoking the confrontation. The circumstances that led to the violence remain subject to police investigation.

Dispute Over Local Party Office

The immediate trigger was a dispute over a local party office in the Mukundapur area.

TMC workers associated with the Mamata Banerjee faction organised a rally demanding that the office, which they alleged had been "forcefully occupied" by the BJP, be vacated.

The workers planned to submit a memorandum at the Purba Jadavpur police station regarding the issue. According to reports, the confrontation began after the procession got under way.

The BJP has disputed the TMC's account of the office dispute and the events leading to the violence.

TMC Alleges BJP Workers Attacked Its Supporters

The TMC alleged that BJP workers attacked its supporters during the rally.

The party also alleged that eggs were thrown at some of its leaders and women workers during the confrontation. Several TMC members were reportedly injured, with some requiring hospital treatment.

Upasana Chowdhury, the Mamata faction's IT cell head, alleged that she was assaulted and that her residence and car were attacked. She also alleged that members of her family were attacked when they attempted to intervene.

These allegations have been made by the TMC and have not been independently established.

Former MLA Humayun Kabir Reports Assault

Former MLA and former IPS officer Humayun Kabir was also reportedly injured during the incident.

Kabir alleged that he was attacked while attempting to reach the police station after the initial clashes. In a video circulated on social media, he appeared with injuries and alleged that the assault occurred near the police station.

He further alleged that his belongings were taken and that his glasses were damaged.

The allegations are part of the TMC's account of the incident and remain subject to investigation.

BJP Rejects TMC's Allegations

The BJP has denied the allegations made by the TMC.

According to the BJP's account, one of its workers was recording the TMC procession when he was confronted by TMC supporters. The BJP alleged that the worker was assaulted, leading to the escalation of the confrontation.

BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar described the allegations made by the Mamata faction as false, while local BJP leaders said their supporters had been attacked without provocation.

The competing accounts mean that the precise sequence of events remains disputed.

Police Use Baton Charge to Control Situation

Police intervened after the confrontation escalated.

Officials said a baton charge was used to disperse the rival groups and restore order in the area. Both TMC and BJP supporters later held demonstrations outside the Purba Jadavpur police station.

The incident has also led to allegations about the police response, with TMC leaders accusing police of failing to act quickly enough. Police, however, intervened to disperse the groups once the situation escalated.

TMC Leaders Criticise Police Response

TMC leaders publicly criticised the police response following the clash.

TMC MP Derek O'Brien alleged that police remained inactive while party workers were being attacked. MP Mahua Moitra also alleged that Kabir was assaulted near the police station and questioned the police response.

These statements represent the TMC's account of the incident and have not been independently established as findings against the police.

Political Tensions in South Kolkata

The Mukundapur confrontation comes amid heightened political tensions between the TMC and BJP in parts of south Kolkata.

The two sides have recently exchanged allegations concerning political offices, leaders and supporters. The latest clash adds to the series of confrontations between rival political groups in the area.

The dispute over control of party offices has become particularly sensitive because such offices serve as local organisational centres for political parties.

Why Party Offices Matter

Local party offices play an important role in political organisation.

They are commonly used for meetings, coordination of workers, campaign planning and interaction with local supporters. Control over an office can therefore have organisational significance beyond the physical premises.

In Mukundapur, the disagreement over the office became the immediate backdrop to the confrontation between the two political groups.

Several People Reportedly Hospitalised

Several TMC workers were reportedly taken to hospital following the clashes.

Reports also indicated injuries to political leaders and workers during the confrontation. The exact number and severity of injuries may become clearer as authorities complete their assessment of the incident.

At present, reports from the two political sides differ significantly over how the injuries occurred and who initiated the violence.

Both Parties Hold Demonstrations

Following the confrontation, supporters of both parties gathered outside the Purba Jadavpur police station.

The demonstrations reflected the competing narratives surrounding the incident. The TMC demanded action over the alleged attacks on its workers, while the BJP rejected the allegations and maintained that its supporters had been targeted.

The police investigation will be important in establishing the sequence of events and determining whether any criminal cases or arrests follow.

Mukundapur Clash: Key Points

IssueDetailsLocationMukundapur, southeast KolkataMain parties involvedTMC and BJP supportersImmediate disputeControl of a local party officeIncidentPhysical confrontation between rival groupsPolice responseBaton charge to disperse groupsInjuriesSeveral people reportedly injuredHospitalisationSeveral TMC workers reportedly hospitalisedTMC allegationBJP workers attacked its supportersBJP allegationTMC workers attacked a BJP member filming the rallyCurrent statusAccounts remain disputed; police investigation underway

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus is expected to remain on the police investigation into the clash.

Authorities will need to establish what triggered the confrontation, identify those involved in any violence and assess complaints made by both sides.

The political dispute over control of the local office is also likely to continue unless the competing groups reach an arrangement regarding its use.

Broader Political Context

The incident comes at a time of heightened political competition between the TMC and BJP in West Bengal.

Both parties have frequently accused each other of political violence and intimidation, particularly around organisational disputes and election-related activity. Such allegations need to be assessed individually rather than treated as established facts without evidence.

The Mukundapur incident illustrates how local organisational disputes can quickly escalate into broader political confrontations.

Bottom Line

TMC and BJP supporters clashed in Kolkata's Mukundapur area over control of a local party office, leaving several people injured and prompting police to use a baton charge to disperse the groups. Several TMC workers were reportedly hospitalised.

The TMC alleged that BJP workers attacked its supporters during a rally seeking control of the party office, while the BJP rejected the allegations and claimed that a TMC confrontation with a BJP worker filming the procession triggered the violence.

The competing accounts have not yet been conclusively resolved. Further police investigation is expected to establish the sequence of events and determine whether additional action follows.