Kolkata airport clash: 5 TMC workers arrested after Abhishek Banerjee visit
Synopsis
Five TMC workers, including a South Dum Dum councillor, were arrested after a clash with BJP supporters outside Kolkata's NSCBI Airport on 20 June — the night TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee returned from Delhi, where he had challenged the merger of rebel TMC MPs with a rival party. Banerjee escaped through an alternate exit; he later alleged on X that armed individuals were apprehended and that mainstream media was downplaying the episode.
Key Takeaways
Police arrested five TMC workers on 20 June after a clash outside Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport , Kolkata.
Among those arrested is Debashis Banerjee , councillor of Ward No.
15 , South Dum Dum Municipality , reportedly close to former minister Bratya Basu .
TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had returned from Delhi , where he met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to challenge the merger of rebel TMC MPs with the NCPI .
TMC alleged BJP supporters carried firearms and planned to throw eggs; BJP filed the initial complaint at the airport police station.
Arrests followed a police review of CCTV footage in response to the BJP complaint.
Abhishek Banerjee posted on X raising security concerns, alleging 'armed individuals were apprehended.'
Police in Kolkata on Saturday, 20 June arrested five Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers, including Debashis Banerjee, councillor of Ward No. 15 of South Dum Dum Municipality, following a violent clash outside Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The arrests came after police reviewed CCTV footage in response to a complaint filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday night.
What Triggered the Clash
TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had travelled to Delhi on Friday to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, where he reportedly challenged the merger of rebel TMC MPs with the National Citizens' Party of India (NCPI). Upon his return to Kolkata, a confrontation broke out at the airport between TMC workers who had gathered to receive him and BJP workers who had reportedly assembled to protest against him.
According to TMC, BJP supporters had planned to throw eggs at Abhishek Banerjee and were allegedly carrying firearms. TMC also alleged that a BJP supporter was positioned at the airport exit with a firearm as Banerjee was preparing to leave. Banerjee was ultimately escorted out safely through an alternate exit.
Arrests and Police Action
Following the BJP's complaint at the airport police station on Friday night, officers examined CCTV footage and detained the five TMC workers by Saturday. Police sources noted that the arrested councillor, Debashis Banerjee, is reportedly close to former West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu. No details of charges have been officially confirmed as yet.
Abhishek Banerjee Raises Security Concerns
After the incident, Abhishek Banerjee posted on X, stating: 'Last night at Kolkata Airport, shortly after I landed from Delhi, a shocking incident took place. Armed individuals were apprehended, leading to serious questions about security and the lengths to which some are willing to go.' He further alleged that the episode had received inadequate coverage in the mainstream media, writing: 'You are unlikely to see this story covered adequately by the mainstream media.'
Political Context
The confrontation comes amid escalating tensions between the TMC and the BJP in West Bengal, particularly following the reported defection of rebel TMC legislators to the NCPI — a development Abhishek Banerjee had specifically travelled to Delhi to contest. This is not the first time clashes between the two parties' workers have been reported at public venues in the state. The incident has reignited a broader debate over political violence and law-and-order accountability in West Bengal ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Point of View
CCTV-second sequence of arrests will draw scrutiny over whether the police response was symmetrical. TMC's allegation of armed BJP protesters, if substantiated, is serious; if not, it risks looking like deflection from its own workers' conduct. What is notable is that Abhishek Banerjee chose X over a press conference to frame the narrative, suggesting a deliberate bypass of traditional media — itself a political signal. With rebel TMC MPs reportedly aligning with the NCPI, the airport clash may be less a random confrontation and more a preview of the organised friction ahead.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were five TMC workers arrested at Kolkata airport?
Five TMC workers were arrested on 20 June after a clash broke out outside Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport between TMC and BJP workers. Police reviewed CCTV footage following a complaint by the BJP and made the arrests.
Who is Debashis Banerjee and why was he arrested?
Debashis Banerjee is the councillor of Ward No. 15 of South Dum Dum Municipality and one of the five TMC workers arrested in connection with the airport clash. Police sources say he is reportedly close to former West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu.
What was Abhishek Banerjee doing in Delhi before the clash?
TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had travelled to Delhi to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, reportedly to challenge the merger of rebel TMC MPs with the National Citizens' Party of India (NCPI). He was returning from this visit when the clash occurred.
What did Abhishek Banerjee say about the incident?
Abhishek Banerjee posted on X saying 'armed individuals were apprehended' at Kolkata Airport, calling it a 'shocking incident' that raised 'serious questions about security.' He also alleged the episode was not receiving adequate coverage in mainstream media.
What did TMC allege about the BJP's role in the clash?
TMC alleged that BJP supporters had gathered at the airport to protest against Abhishek Banerjee, planned to throw eggs at him, and were allegedly carrying firearms. The party claimed one BJP supporter was positioned at the airport exit with a firearm.
