Mamata Banerjee attacked in North 24 Parganas; TMC MLAs protest in Bengal Assembly
Synopsis
Mamata Banerjee's visit to console a slain party worker's family turned dangerous when her vehicle was allegedly pelted with shoes, mud, and stones at Halisahar. The incident — coming a day after a Trinamool worker died in police custody — has triggered Assembly protests and state-wide rallies, sharply escalating the political standoff between TMC and the BJP government in West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
Trinamool Congress MLAs staged a protest in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on 10 August over the attack on former CM Mamata Banerjee .
Mamata's vehicle was allegedly pelted with shoes, mud, bricks, and stones at Halisahar, North 24 Parganas on Sunday; she blamed BJP-backed miscreants .
The crisis was triggered by the custodial death of Trinamool worker Birju Keot in Halisahar police station ; his wife alleged he was beaten to death.
The Assembly protest was led by senior TMC leaders Sovandeb Chattopadhyay , Kunal Ghosh , Biman Banerjee , and Nayana Bandyopadhyay .
Trinamool Congress has called protest rallies in all blocks of West Bengal on Monday to intensify pressure on the BJP government.
Trinamool Congress MLAs on Monday, 10 August staged a demonstration inside the West Bengal Legislative Assembly premises, demanding justice after former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was attacked the previous day at Halisahar in North 24 Parganas district. The MLAs raised slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the state police administration, and pledged to hold protest rallies across West Bengal through the day.
What Happened at Halisahar
On Sunday, Mamata Banerjee travelled to Kanchrapara to condole the family of deceased Trinamool Congress worker Birju Keot, who died in police custody. She was accompanied by Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen. On the way, her vehicle reportedly faced protests — shoes and mud were allegedly hurled at her car, and bricks and stones were thrown at it. Mamata claimed that BJP-backed miscreants were responsible for the act, adding that had the windows been open, she could have suffered a head injury or even lost her life.
The Custodial Death That Triggered the Crisis
The sequence of events began when police at Halisahar police station arrested Birju Keot, husband of a former Trinamool Congress councillor of Ward No. 23 of Kanchrapara Municipality, on charges including extortion. He was produced in court on Friday, and a judge ordered five days of police custody. By Saturday, it emerged that Keot had died in custody. His wife Jenny alleged he was beaten to death by police inside the lock-up. The custodial death drew sharp condemnation from Trinamool Congress leaders, who also slammed the police administration at the Assembly protest.
Assembly Protest: Key Leaders and Demands
The protest march inside the Assembly premises was led by senior Trinamool Congress leaders including Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Kunal Ghosh, Biman Banerjee, and Nayana Bandyopadhyay, among others. The MLAs carried banners and posters denouncing the attack on Mamata Banerjee. Their core demands centred on accountability for the attack and justice in the custodial death case.
State-Wide Rallies Planned
According to a party insider, the minority faction of Trinamool Congress — which Mamata leads — is working to intensify its movement across West Bengal, with the Halisahar incident as its focal point. Protest marches are scheduled in all blocks of the state on Monday. The party views the back-to-back incidents — the custodial death and the attack on its leader — as a coordinated political assault that demands a strong street response.
With state-wide rallies unfolding and the BJP denying involvement, the political temperature in West Bengal is set to rise sharply in the coming days.
Point of View
The attack on her vehicle — however it is ultimately attributed — is a rallying symbol at a moment when her faction needs to demonstrate street strength. For the BJP government under Suvendu Adhikari, the custodial death of a Trinamool worker is a serious accountability question that risks overshadowing any counter-narrative. What is striking is the sequencing: a custodial death, a condolence visit, and then an attack on the visiting leader — all within 48 hours. Whether that sequence was spontaneous or engineered will determine the political fallout. The state-wide rallies will be the first real test of how much organisational muscle the minority TMC faction retains on the ground.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Mamata Banerjee at Halisahar?
Mamata Banerjee's vehicle was allegedly attacked at Halisahar in North 24 Parganas on Sunday when she visited Kanchrapara to meet the family of deceased Trinamool Congress worker Birju Keot. Shoes, mud, bricks, and stones were reportedly hurled at her car. Mamata claimed BJP-backed miscreants were behind the attack and said she could have been seriously injured if the windows had been open.
Who is Birju Keot and why did he die?
Birju Keot was the husband of a former Trinamool Congress councillor of Ward No. 23 of Kanchrapara Municipality. He was arrested by Halisahar police on charges including extortion, produced in court on Friday, and remanded to five days of police custody. By Saturday, it was revealed he had died in custody. His wife Jenny alleged he was beaten to death by police inside the lock-up.
Why are Trinamool Congress MLAs protesting in the Assembly?
TMC MLAs staged a protest in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on 10 August to demand justice for the attack on former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and accountability for the custodial death of party worker Birju Keot. They raised slogans against the BJP government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the state police administration.
What protests are planned across West Bengal today?
Trinamool Congress has called protest marches in all blocks of West Bengal on 10 August, focusing on the Halisahar custodial death and the attack on Mamata Banerjee. The party aims to intensify its state-wide movement around these two incidents.
Who led the protest march inside the West Bengal Assembly?
The protest inside the West Bengal Legislative Assembly premises was led by senior Trinamool Congress leaders Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Kunal Ghosh, Biman Banerjee, and Nayana Bandyopadhyay, among other MLAs who carried banners denouncing the attack on Mamata Banerjee.
