Six people have been arrested in connection with the alleged attack and harassment of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee during his visit to Sonarpur in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, police said on Sunday.
Abhishek Banerjee had gone to Sonarpur on Saturday to meet the family members of a slain TMC worker who reportedly became a victim of post-poll violence. During the visit, he faced public outrage and was allegedly harassed, heckled and assaulted by a group of local residents, including several women. Protesters reportedly threw eggs and brick fragments at him, raised "thief" slogans, tore his shirt and attempted to physically assault him despite the presence of security personnel.
The incident triggered questions over police security arrangements. Following the attack, Sonarpur Police launched an overnight search operation and examined video footage from the scene. Based on the footage, six local residents were identified and arrested.
"The search operation was carried out at night. Till Sunday morning, six people have been arrested. Investigation is on," police said, adding that efforts are underway to identify others involved in the incident. Security forces continue to patrol the area.
After being escorted out of Sonarpur, Abhishek Banerjee was taken to a private hospital near the East Metropolitan Bypass in Kolkata. Following preliminary medical examination, doctors reportedly informed him that hospital admission was not required. He was later shifted to another private hospital in Minto Park, central Kolkata, where he underwent further examination in the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU).
Hospital authorities subsequently issued a medical certificate stating that no major internal injuries had been detected and that Banerjee was fully conscious. The certificate prescribed certain medicines, including a digestive tablet, and concluded that "no admission required."
The medical assessment led to a fresh political controversy after TMC supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that hospitals were being pressured not to admit or properly treat her nephew.
A video of Mamata Banerjee confronting hospital staff later went viral on social media. In the clip, she is reportedly heard telling hospital personnel, "You are running a hospital? You are arrogant."
Speaking to reporters outside the hospital, Mamata Banerjee claimed that medical institutions were under pressure from authorities not to provide treatment to Abhishek Banerjee.
"Those who are in power are threatening all the hospitals and the maximum authorities not to admit Abhishek Banerjee because they don't want him to be treated. When I was sitting with the hospital administrator, he told me that he was getting threat calls from the police. Doctors are sad, but they are pressured," she alleged.
Questioning the hospital's decision not to admit him, she asked, "If there was genuinely no need for hospitalisation, why was he first taken to the ITU, kept under observation for nearly two hours, and advised to undergo multiple medical tests and scans?"
According to Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee remained under medical supervision from around 8.15 p.m. until nearly 11 p.m. before being discharged.
She further alleged that a Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police had pressured the second hospital not to admit him and accused the BJP of interfering in medical treatment.
"They are not even allowing anyone to get treatment. In front of me, the police were threatening. They said permission was needed. If any patient comes, then you need permission from the BJP party on who will be treated and who will not," she claimed, describing the situation as "inhuman."
The controversy intensified after BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar shared a purported video on social media alleging that Mamata Banerjee had pressured the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minto Park hospital to admit Abhishek Banerjee despite medical reports indicating no serious injuries.
Referring to the hospital's medical certificate, Sarkar alleged that the episode represented "a disturbing attempt to misuse medical institutions for political narratives."
"Hospitals exist to serve patients based on medical necessity, not political convenience. Any effort to intimidate doctors, administrators or healthcare institutions undermines public trust and violates the basic principles of democracy and governance," Sarkar wrote on social media.
Mamata Banerjee, however, rejected the allegations and maintained that Abhishek Banerjee was denied proper treatment due to political pressure. She said treatment would continue at home and added that he could be shifted outside the state if necessary.
"For now, the treatment will be at home. Whatever saline and oxygen are needed will be given at home. If necessary, Abhishek will be taken to Hyderabad for treatment," she said.
Banerjee also claimed that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, had called her and assured full cooperation in arranging treatment for Abhishek at a hospital outside West Bengal if required.
After leaving the hospital, Abhishek Banerjee returned to his residence on Kalighat Road in south Kolkata, close to Mamata Banerjee's residence.
