Kolkata, Dec 12 (IANS): West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker Sonali Guha courted controversy Thursday after she was caught on tape threatening and manhandling residents of an apartment in Howrah district and declaring herself as the "government".

While her party Trinamool Congress said it was looking into the matter, Governor K.N. Tripathi expressed his displeasure and asserted there was no place for threats in democracy.

Guha, who has denied the charges, was seen in the footage, aired by TV news channels, threatening the residents of an apartment in the district's Salkia area, declaring herself as the "government". The footage also showed a woman hitting out at a man with a shoe.

"I am the chief minister; I am the government. Don't mess with me. Do as I say," Guha was seen on TV telling the apartment's residents association president Nagendra Rai.

She also threatened to evict Rai from his flat and lock it up over a non-functional elevator in the apartment.

Rai, who has filed a police complaint, alleged that Guha and several Trinamool activists barged into his flat. They abused, threatened and assaulted him.

Reacting to the incident, the governor said: "In democracy, there is no need to give threats. Everybody has the right to put forth his arguments but that should be done lawfully and courteously. I think, the words could have been said in a courteous manner."

Denying the charges, Guha clarified that she did not call herself the chief minister but a representative of the "chief minister".

"He (Rai) is a BJP man and has been threatening other residents and intentionally locked up the elevator. I just told him that it was illegal to do so and said I am the chief minister's man and will not tolerate such things," Guha said.

"Why should I say I am the chief minister? I said I was a man of the chief minister and a government official," added Guha.

While the Trinamool said, it has taken cognisance of the incident, the opposition has slammed Guha for her comments.

Trinamool secretary general and Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said: "The matter has come to the party's knowledge and we are looking into it."

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state unit president Rahul Sinha said: "When the chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) herself publicly issues threats and uses unparliamentary language, what else can be expected from her party's leaders."

Echoing a similar view, state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury expressed concern over leaders from the ruling party taking the law into their hands.