Abhishek Banerjee's Kolkata office vandalised; TMC alleges BJP link
An office of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee on Camac Street in Kolkata was found vandalised on Thursday morning, September 3, 2026. The incident is reported to have taken place around 4:30 a.m. Video footage shared by TMC leaders shows several masked individuals removing equipment from the premises, with shattered glass and scattered materials indicating deliberate destruction.
Mr. Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary, alleged that supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were responsible for the attack. In a social media post, he shared closed-circuit television footage from inside the office and said, "If this is how the Opposition is to be treated in West Bengal, through violence, vandalism and intimidation, then the Chief Minister has no moral authority to remain in office. He must resign. This is not democracy. This is political thuggery."
The police have not yet confirmed the identity of the attackers or the motive behind the incident. The TMC has claimed that multiple calls to the police emergency number were made but no response came until later. TMC leader Upasana Chowdhury, who arrived at the scene, said that despite repeated calls reporting the incident, the police did not act promptly.
Mr. Banerjee, who represents the Diamond Harbour constituency in the Lok Sabha, appealed to the judiciary, particularly the Calcutta High Court, to take "serious note of what is happening" and act to uphold the rule of law in West Bengal. He did not provide any further evidence linking the attackers to any political organisation.
The office at 9 Camac Street has been used by Mr. Banerjee for several years. The current incident follows a scuffle on August 27 between Kolkata Police personnel and senior TMC leaders over the removal of a party hoarding from the same building. Police have since registered FIRs and questioned TMC leaders in connection with that episode. Mr. Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien were also summoned by the police over the matter. Additionally, West Bengal Fire Services personnel inspected the premises and alleged unauthorised construction.
Mr. Banerjee is currently facing over 16 FIRs registered after the BJP-led government came to power in May 2026. In some of these cases, the Calcutta High Court has granted him protection from arrest. The latest incident has heightened political tensions in the state, with both major parties trading accusations. However, independent verification of the claims made by either side is awaited.
