Kolkata Police book TMC's Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O'Brien over hoarding removal clash

Kolkata Police have registered three first information reports (FIRs) against Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, among others, following a scuffle that occurred on Thursday night when municipal officials attempted to remove a party hoarding from a building in the city's Camac Street area.

Thirteen people have been arrested in connection with the incident, and all have been remanded to judicial custody until September 3 by the Bankshall Sessions Court. The FIRs were filed at the Shakespeare Police Station based on complaints from KMC officials and police personnel.

According to Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kunal Aggarwal, the removal was carried out as per the direction of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). The accused, including Banerjee and O'Brien, along with their supporters, are alleged to have formed an unlawful assembly, obstructed police and KMC officials from performing their duties, and used criminal force against them.

The incident took place when a team of police and KMC officials arrived at 9 Camac Street, where a building houses the office of Abhishek Banerjee, to remove an electric signboard reading 'All India Trinamool Congress'. The officials argued that the hoarding was hanging dangerously and had to be removed immediately.

TMC leaders and supporters resisted the move, questioning whether the officials had the necessary orders. A heated exchange followed for nearly an hour and a half before police forced their way inside and removed the banner. Videos shared by the TMC on social media showed pushing and shoving between supporters and police. Derek O'Brien is seen falling on the stairs during the operation.

In a statement, Banerjee questioned the selective removal, asking: "What billboard will I put outside my office, will this be decided by the BJP? There are 400 posters of the BJP on this road. Will the police and KMC remove any of them?"

The police have alleged that a constable's government-issued walkie-talkie was snatched, and that when he tried to apprehend one of the suspects, he was assaulted. They also alleged that a woman constable was attacked with intent to outrage her modesty, and that the accused threatened public servants with false criminal cases.

The building at 9 Camac Street houses several offices, and authorities said a political party hoarding cannot be put up on such premises. Police officials maintained that the removal was a routine action based on the KMC's direction, and that the hoarding posed a safety risk.

The TMC leaders, however, alleged that the action was politically motivated, pointing out that hoardings and posters of other parties, including the BJP, remained untouched on the same road. The party has also claimed that police used excessive force against its workers.

The FIRs were lodged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to unlawful assembly, assaulting public servants, and criminal intimidation. As per procedure, all allegations are subject to investigation, and the accused have not yet been formally charged.