TMC Office Vandalised in Kolkata: Banerjee Seeks Probe as BJP Calls Attack ‘Staged’

Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and senior party leaders on Thursday accused unidentified masked men of vandalising his Camac Street office in Kolkata, alleging that the incident reflected a serious breakdown of law and order in West Bengal.

TMC MPs Mahua Moitra and Saugata Roy said around 25 men entered the office at about 4:30 am, overpowered security guards and went on a prolonged rampage across the sixth and seventh floors. According to the party, the attackers broke open the entrance, smashed glass panes and damaged computers, printers, scanners and other electronic equipment. Television screens, air purifiers and laptops were also allegedly taken away.

Moitra claimed the guards were threatened and their mobile phones seized, while CCTV cameras were allegedly disabled before the vandalism began. She said the party repeatedly contacted police from around 4:30 am, but personnel reached the premises only around 6:30-7 am, after TMC lawyers approached the police station.

Banerjee, in a post on X, described the incident as a “disgraceful assault on the rule of law” and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible. He also sought a probe into who planned, organised and directed the alleged attack, besides demanding accountability for the alleged police delay.

Moitra said six people had been apprehended but questioned whether they were the same individuals who entered the office. She also alleged that police subsequently prevented party members from accessing the affected floors to assess the damage.

The TMC has alleged BJP involvement, while the BJP has denied the charge and called the incident staged.

The episode comes amid heightened tensions following last week’s confrontation between TMC workers and Kolkata Police during an operation involving an allegedly unauthorised rooftop billboard. Three FIRs were registered over that incident.

Moitra said the TMC has written to President Droupadi Murmu and West Bengal Governor R N Ravi, seeking meetings with a party delegation to discuss the incident and the broader law-and-order situation.