Custodial death: Mamata Banerjee faces protests during visit to victim's family

Kolkata, August 9: Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Sunday visited the residence of Birju Keot, a TMC worker who died in police custody, at Halisahar in North 24 Parganas. The visit was marred by protests, with locals raising slogans against her and allegedly attacking her vehicle.

Ms. Banerjee claimed that bricks were thrown at her vehicle by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters and blamed the police for the attack. “I condemn this. Even after a custodial death, they are threatening the family of the deceased,” she said, adding that instead of providing security to her, the police allowed “lumpens from outside” to attack her vehicle. The TMC chairperson said her party will approach the court over the custodial death.

Birju Keot, husband of former TMC councillor Jenny Sharma Keot, was arrested by Halisahar police on Friday on allegations including extortion and corruption. He was produced before a Barrackpore sub-divisional court, which remanded him to five days of police custody. On Saturday, he was taken to a state-run hospital from police lock-up, where he was pronounced dead.

The visit was the first by Ms. Banerjee to a party worker after the TMC's defeat in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections. The party has alleged that its workers have been targeted by violence and arrests since the BJP formed the government. TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was similarly attacked on May 30 when he visited Sonarpur to meet the family of a deceased TMC worker.

The TMC leadership has accused the state government of failing to protect its workers after the change of power. The BJP has dismissed these accusations as politically motivated. The circumstances surrounding the death of Birju Keot are under investigation, and police have not yet issued a formal statement regarding Ms. Banerjee's allegations.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened in the Halisahar area to prevent any further escalation. The family of the deceased has demanded a thorough inquiry into the custodial death. The TMC has said it will seek legal recourse to ensure justice.