Trinamool Congress Moves Calcutta High Court Over Recent Attacks, Egg-Pelting Incidents Against MLAs, MPs

The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has approached the Calcutta High Court by filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging a series of violent attacks and public humiliation of its leaders, MPs, MLAs and party workers across West Bengal.

The matter was mentioned on Monday by Senior Advocate Sirsanya Bandopadhyay before a Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty.

Bandopadhyay informed the Court that although the petition had been filed on Friday, it had not been taken up. Seeking urgent listing, he requested the Bench to hear the matter on priority.

Taking note of the submissions, the Division Bench agreed to hear the matter on an urgent basis.

The petition refers to recent incidents in which Trinamool Congress MPs Derek O'Brien, Kalyan Bandopadhyay and Abhishek Banerjee, as well as MLAs Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra, were allegedly targeted with egg-pelting and other acts of violence against the party's workers.

According to the plea, the PIL has been filed seeking the Court's intervention against what it describes as "shocking, terrifying and heartrending incidents of targeted public violence, mob lynching, and defamatory media and public trials against individuals associated with" the All India Trinamool Congress.

The petitioner submits that the proceedings have been instituted "to protect and uphold the rule of law, constitutional freedoms, democratic values and the fundamental rights guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution," alleging that these rights have been seriously infringed by "politically motivated acts of violence, coercion and victimization."

Claiming that the law and order situation in West Bengal has deteriorated, the petition states:

"The prevailing law and order situation in the State of West Bengal is extremely alarming and deeply disturbing as the workers and associates of the All India Trinamool Congress are not safe."

The plea further alleges that party workers and associates have been subjected to repeated acts of public humiliation and physical assault.

"They have been subjected to public humiliation and physical violence. Mobs have frequently thrown eggs, ink, and stones at these individuals."

The petition also claims that in more serious instances, party members have allegedly been unlawfully restrained, assaulted and publicly humiliated by mobs.

"In severe instances, individuals have been unlawfully restrained, physically thrashed, paraded under duress, and subjected to grievous bodily harm by unruly mobs acting as self-appointed judges, juries, and executioners."