Kolkata, 11 December (H.S.) :

BJP MLA from Asansol South, Agnimitra Paul, staged a road blockade on Wednesday night at the NH 19 stretch near Kali Pahari along with party workers, protesting alleged misconduct by Trinamool Congress supporters.

According to Paul, she was visiting the Tirat area for public outreach earlier in the evening when local Trinamool Congress leader and panchayat member Subir Banerjee arrived with his supporters and allegedly misbehaved with her. She claimed they questioned her absence over the past four and a half years and that Banerjee instigated Trinamool’s women workers to surround her convoy. Her vehicle was reportedly held up for more than an hour.

She said the police were informed, but when officers reached the spot, they spoke to the Trinamool workers “very gently” and made no effort to help her leave the area. Paul asserted that attempts to block BJP legislators would not weaken the party’s morale. She added that illegal sand operations in the region had been shut because of her intervention, and this, she said, was why Trinamool leaders were acting vindictively. She alleged that proceeds from illegal business routinely reached Trinamool leadership.

Responding to allegations of illegal soil excavation, Paul said removing soil from railway land did not constitute a criminal offence. She claimed the Trinamool government under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had failed completely and that residents had not benefited from state initiatives. According to her, such criticism appeared to unsettle Trinamool workers. She further accused the ruling party of corruption and said she would continue to speak openly against it.

Subir Banerjee, however, denied obstructing the MLA or misbehaving with her. He alleged that CISF personnel deployed for Paul’s security had threatened local women with firearms, provoking their anger and sparking the protest. Banerjee also accused the MLA of visiting locations where illegal soil trade was underway and negotiating with operators before coming to Garhgarhdanga, where she allegedly misbehaved with local women.

On Paul’s claim of stopping illegal sand mining, Banerjee said it was untrue. He asserted that development in the region had been carried out either by the district council or by former Trinamool MLA Tapas Banerjee. He said residents grew angry only after the BJP MLA made false remarks about Tapas Banerjee. Several women in the area also alleged that it was Paul who behaved inappropriately with them.

Anger among BJP workers grew following the incident, and later in the evening, party supporters staged another protest at Bhagat Singh Chowk, raising slogans against Trinamool leaders and condemning the alleged misconduct with their MLA.

BJP representative Abhijit Rai said such incidents had become frequent. He accused Trinamool leaders of repeatedly mistreating BJP public representatives while the police remained passive, adding that even after complaints were filed, no action was taken.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh