Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Jun 20: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and MP Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday expressed serious concerns over security arrangements in West Bengal after an individual was allegedly detained with a firearm outside Kolkata's airport shortly after his arrival from Delhi on Friday night.
In a post on X, Banerjee described the incident as alarming and questioned the prevailing security situation.
"Last night at Kolkata Airport, shortly after I landed from Delhi, a shocking incident took place. Armed individuals were apprehended, leading to serious questions about security and the lengths to which some are willing to go," he wrote.
The TMC General Secretary also alleged that sections of the mainstream media had not given sufficient attention to the incident.
"You are unlikely to see this story covered adequately by the mainstream media," Banerjee stated in his post.
The incident occurred after Banerjee returned from New Delhi, where he had met Om Birla and reportedly challenged the merger of rebel TMC MPs with the National Citizens' Party of India (NCPI).
Meanwhile, senior TMC MP Derek O'Brien also raised serious allegations regarding the episode. He claimed that a supporter of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was present near the airport exit carrying a firearm at the time he and Banerjee were leaving the premises on Friday night.
Sharing a video on X that showed an individual being escorted away by Trinamool supporters, O'Brien questioned whether the incident amounted to an attempted attack on Banerjee.
“BJP supporter with a gun. Chilling video. More proof from outside Kolkata airport last night. Attempt to murder?” he wrote.
In another post, O'Brien shared footage uploaded by the Trinamool Congress' official social media account and said the suspect had been intercepted by women supporters of the party.
He also questioned the role of the police in allowing such a situation to occur.
“Minutes before Abhishek Banerjee, Kunal Banerjee and I walked out of Kolkata airport at around 9.45 p.m. on Friday, an armed man was present at the exit. He was nabbed by women supporters of TMC. Bengal Police? Videos say it all,” he posted.
The video circulated on social media shows the accused surrounded by a group of women while several individuals physically restrained him near the airport exit area.
On Friday, the Trinamool Congress described the episode as a “state-sponsored attempt to eliminate a political opponent” and raised questions about the law-and-order situation.
The party also criticised remarks linking the state's governance to Suvendu Adhikari, though the allegations made by TMC leaders have not been independently verified, and authorities have not yet publicly confirmed any motive behind the incident or whether it was an attempted attack on Banerjee.