Kolkata, 08 October (H.S.) :

A group of unidentified miscreants attacked the Purbalok residence of former Kolkata Mayor and veteran CPI(M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya in the early hours of Thursday. The assailants allegedly vandalised and smashed the CCTV cameras installed outside the premises before hurling bricks indiscriminately at the house.

Terming the incident a calculated conspiracy, the former Rajya Sabha MP stated that the attackers had concealed their faces and masked the registration number plates of their motorcycles. It was a meticulously planned attack. If these people are not terrorists, then who are they? These terrorists should know that they cannot intimidate me. I will now apply for a firearm licence for my self-defence, Bhattacharyya remarked.

No formal police complaint has been registered in connection with the incident so far, and opposition parties have yet to issue any official reaction.

Allegations of Left leaders being targeted have frequently surfaced following the change of regime in the state.

Bhattacharyya has previously drawn backlash from Hindutva organisations over his ideological stance. In June this year, activists staged a 'pork festival' outside his residence, a video of which was widely circulated on social media, in retaliation to Bhattacharyya publicly consuming beef at Esplanade nearly a decade ago as a demonstration against religious intolerance. Despite criticism from conservative groups, the former mayor has consistently maintained his position, often citing the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda.

In one previously viral clip, members associated with an apolitical group named 'Jatir Katha' were seen eating pork outside his house, while in another, a youth challenged Bhattacharyya to consume pork if he advocated secularism. However, it remains unconfirmed whether Thursday morning's violent assault bears any direct link to that past controversy.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh