Pictures by Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency.
Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency: Slaps and Punches Fly; He Dons a Helmet to Dodge Eggs and Shoes. As Abhishek Banerjee entered Sonarpur on a motorcycle, protesters physically assaulted him. Wearing a cricket helmet, the Trinamool MP continued to press forward amidst the chaos. At that point, eggs were hurled at him, followed by shoes. Abhishek Banerjee faces a hostile protest in Sonarpur. While visiting victims of post-poll violence, Trinamool's All-India General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, himself became a target of assault. As he attempted to enter Sonarpur on a bike, protesters laid hands on him. He was subjected to indiscriminate slaps and punches to his head, neck, and body.
Amidst this turmoil, and still wearing the cricket helmet, the Trinamool MP continued his journey toward the home of Sanju Karmakar—a Trinamool worker killed in Sonarpur. Eggs were thrown at him, as were shoes. The buttons of the white shirt he was wearing were torn off. In this disheveled state, the Trinamool leader continued to advance on foot.
In fact, even before Abhishek reached Sonarpur, women were spotted in several locations standing with eggs in their hands. Elsewhere, BJP supporters—waving black flags—were chanting "Go Back" slogans. Faced with this protest environment, the MP from Diamond Harbour opted to travel by motorcycle rather than his four-wheeled vehicle. It was then that he encountered the full force of the protest. Several individuals chased after his vehicle on foot, and the physical assault ensued shortly thereafter. Eventually, Abhishek managed to reach the home of the slain Trinamool worker.
On Saturday, Abhishek's scheduled itinerary involved visiting the homes of those killed in post-poll violence. His route took him from Kolkata's Beleghata to Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas. Midway through his journey, the Trinamool All-India General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, stopped at his residence in Kalighat to receive a notice from the CID. However, even before the MP from Diamond Harbour could enter Sonarpur, BJP leaders and workers had gathered on the streets, brandishing black flags. They began chanting "Go Back" slogans at Abhishek. From the Dhalai Bridge near Patuli all the way to Kamrabad in Sonarpur, BJP workers had mobilized across the entire stretch to stage their protests. Abhishek Banerjee visits the home of a slain Trinamool worker.
Three weeks have passed since the announcement of the Assembly election results. On Saturday, May 30, Abhishek took to the streets for his first political engagement. He visited the families of two 'affected' Trinamool workers—one from Sonarpur South in South 24 Parganas and another from Beliaghata—to meet with them. Meanwhile, around 1:20 PM, a team from the State CID arrived at his residence, 'Shantiniketan,' located on Harish Mukherjee Road. However, his security guards and staff informed them that neither the Trinamool leader nor any other member of his household was currently at home. It was reported that this visit to Abhishek's residence was in connection with the investigation into the 'signature controversy' involving Trinamool MLAs in the Assembly. Around that same time, Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh stated that the party's All-India General Secretary was present at his residence.