Former West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the police of violating the Calcutta High Court's order by failing to facilitate the party's protest march over the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur. Calling the police's actions "contempt of court", Banerjee also alleged that she was kept "under police watch" as though she were under "house arrest" ahead of the rally.
Addressing media during the protest march in Kolkata, Banerjee alleged that the administration failed to uphold the High Court's directions despite the rally receiving judicial approval.
"Law and order here has completely collapsed—the situation is worse than even that of Uttar Pradesh. How did the police violate the High Court's approval for the rally? This amounts to contempt of court. They have failed to provide security to the people. They simply attack our workers; I condemn the BJP," she said.
The protest was organised over the alleged gang rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur. The victim's body was recovered from a pond on July 5 after she had gone missing a day earlier. Police have alleged that she was gang-raped, murdered and her body stuffed into a sack before being dumped in the water.
‘Not blaming BJP’: Mamata Banerjee
Banerjee said she was not blaming the BJP directly for the disruption of the march, but held the administration responsible for failing to maintain law and order.
"I am not blaming the BJP; I am blaming the administration. They should have taken moral responsibility so that we could have held the rally peacefully. Instead, they allowed BJP workers, who beat our workers," she alleged.
Her remarks came a day after the Calcutta High Court permitted the Trinamool Youth Congress to hold the rally, setting aside a Kolkata Police communication denying permission. The court allowed the march subject to several conditions, including a revised route, restricted timings, a maximum of 1,000 participants, the use of handheld microphones instead of loudspeakers and keeping one side of the road open for traffic.
TMC-BJP Face-off
Alleging that women participants were also assaulted during the protest, Banerjee claimed the police had failed to enforce the court's order.
"Women were beaten. We had the court's order. The BJP threatened us this morning as well... The police have become BJP cadres," she said.
Questioning how the protest was obstructed despite judicial approval, the TMC chief alleged that the police had failed in their constitutional duty.
"The Calcutta High Court allowed our rally, but BJP goons stopped it. How can the police undermine the court order allowing the TMC rally? BJP goons beat up our workers during the protest march," she said.
Banerjee also alleged that she was prevented from carrying out political activities.
"I am being kept under police watch as if I am under house arrest," she said, adding, "The West Bengal Police have become an arm of the BJP."
She further accused the police of focusing on political opponents instead of protecting women.
"We all know how you came to power... the police are keeping a watch on us here, yet they are nowhere to be found where atrocities against women are taking place. Rampage and chaos are unfolding across the entire area, from Kalighat and my residence to Ballygunge. Is this the 'change' the people of Bengal wanted?" she said.
Reiterating that the rally had been organised only after obtaining permission from the High Court, Banerjee alleged that participants were attacked despite the court's approval.
"We have to seek court permission for rallies. We held the rally after obtaining court approval, yet you saw how people were attacked. Those who loot money in the name of Ram should be ashamed... do not tarnish the name of Ram," she said.
The political confrontation unfolded as the Baruipur case took another dramatic turn on Wednesday after one of the prime accused was killed in a police encounter during a crime scene reconstruction exercise. The encounter has since triggered a political row, with Opposition leaders, including the TMC, questioning the circumstances of the operation and demanding accountability.
