Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Sep 21: Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra on Monday approached the Calcutta High Court, alleging police inaction in connection with the egg-pelting incident targeting her in West Bengal's Tehatta area last week.
Moitra, the Krishnanagar MP, alleged that Nadia district police had failed to take adequate action against those responsible for the incident despite an earlier court direction on security arrangements during her constituency visits.
Her lawyer mentioned the matter before Justice Saugata Bhattacharya and sought an early hearing. The judge allowed the petition to be filed but declined to grant an expedited hearing, directing that it be taken up according to the regular cause list.
The alleged incident took place on September 16 when Moitra visited the Haulia Park More area of Tehatta in Nadia district to attend a meeting with party leaders and workers.
According to her allegation, protesters gathered after learning about her visit. As she emerged from the meeting venue, they allegedly waved black flags, raised “go back” slogans and threw eggs at her while she was getting into her vehicle.
Moitra subsequently shared videos of the incident on social media and alleged that BJP workers were behind the attack. She also alleged that police failed to prevent the protesters from targeting her.
She later lodged a complaint at Tehatta police station, naming eight BJP activists in connection with the alleged egg attack. Police have been examining available video and CCTV footage as part of the inquiry.
The incident came shortly after the Calcutta High Court had directed the Krishnanagar police district to provide additional security to Moitra during her visits to the constituency for political events and public outreach.
Referring to an earlier observation by Supreme Court Justice Dipankar Datta during proceedings involving her, Moitra said she had faced the situation in the same spirit as freedom fighters who faced bullets.
However, BJP legislator from Tehatta Subrata Kobiraj denied that party workers were involved in the incident.
Kobiraj claimed that the incident was the result of factional differences within the Trinamool Congress in Nadia district, alleging that one group supported Moitra while another opposed her.
“This was the result of factional conflict within Trinamool Congress. Here, one group is backing Moitra, while another is against her. Trinamool Congress in Nadia is now divided into two groups, and an anti-Moitra group attacked her. BJP had nothing to do with it,” Kobiraj said.
The allegations of responsibility for the egg-pelting remain disputed, with Moitra and the BJP putting forward different accounts of who was behind the incident.