Violence erupted at a Trinamool Congress procession in Kolkata on Wednesday (July 8, 2026), as TMC supporters clashed with BJP workers.
Denouncing the chaos, TMC chief and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that lawlessness has prevailed in the State since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power two months ago.
In all, 41 TMC workers, supporters and leaders were injured and were admitted to the SSKM Hospital after they were subjected to physical assault and brutality unleashed by BJP goons, according to a Trinamool statement on Wednesday evening.
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Both men and women have been manhandled and physically abused by goons they [the BJP] have hired.
Is this the ‘paribartan’ (change) that the people of Bengal had desired?” Ms.
Banerjee asked, addressing a protest outside her house after violence erupted at the rally.
‘Practically under house arrest’ The Trinamool rally was organised to protest the brutal rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur, which has led to high tensions across the State, including violent protests in Baruipur.
The procession was set to move from Hazra Crossing to Ballygunge Phari, but clashes between Trinamool and BJP workers broke out in the Hazra area and continued in pockets across the rally in multiple places.
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Banerjee had not joined the rally in person because the number of participants was capped by the High Court.
When violence broke out, however, she came out of her home to address protesters.
She alleged that party workers are not being allowed to go anywhere and have practically been put “under house arrest”.
The Trinamool party supremo also alleged that their hand-held microphones had been taken away despite the High Court’s permission to use them.
‘Bengal lawlessness worse than U.P.’ “The ones who steal from the donations of Ram used slogans in the name of Ram in our rallies trying to disrupt our protests and insult the good name of Ram,” the Trinamool chairperson added.
She blamed the police for “allowing” the disruptions to TMC rallies and protest marches and failing to take action against miscreants who attacked TMC workers, claiming that lawlessness in Bengal is now worse than in Uttar Pradesh.
She urged those who had defected from the Trinamool not to betray their own party workers.
Anybody who does not wish to associate with the party should directly join the BJP, rather than maintaining divided loyalty, she said.
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Banerjee also alleged that chaos was unleashed in front of her house in Kalighat, with bike rallies given permission to take place in front of her house in a bid to intimidate her.
‘Broken trust’ BJP State president Samik Bhattacharya responded by saying it is a free and democratic State, adding that Ms.
Banerjee could walk in as many rallies as she wanted.
“There were no such protests during her time when atrocities happened, that is why people removed her from power.
People had trusted her and replaced the Left, but she broke that trust.
That is why Trinamool has been wiped out,” Mr.
Bhattacharya said.
