Eggs pelted at CPM's Minakshi Mukherjee car in Cooch Behar's Sitalkuchi
Synopsis
CPM central committee member Minakshi Mukherjee was targeted with eggs in Sitalkuchi Bazaar, Cooch Behar, while returning from a condolence visit to a deceased party worker's family. She broadcast the attack live, filed a police complaint, and sat on a dharna at the SP's office — all while the BJP denied any role, calling it 'the anger of the common man.'
Key Takeaways
CPM central committee member Minakshi Mukherjee had eggs pelted at her car in Sitalkuchi Bazaar, Cooch Behar on 7 July .
She was returning after visiting the family of Montu Mia , a CPM activist whose death the party suspects was a murder.
Mukherjee alleged BJP workers carried out the attack and accused police of inaction.
She filed a written complaint at the Cooch Behar SP's office and sat on a dharna after no arrests were made.
BJP district president Abhijit Barman denied party involvement, calling it an expression of public anger.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) central committee member Minakshi Mukherjee had eggs hurled at her vehicle in Sitalkuchi Bazaar of Cooch Behar district, North Bengal, on Tuesday, 7 July, while she was returning after visiting the family of a deceased party worker. The attack was captured live on social media as Mukherjee broadcast video from inside the car, showing eggs striking the windshield in quick succession.
What Triggered the Visit
CPM activist Montu Mia died in Sitalkuchi two days before the incident. The party claims the family suspects he was murdered, and that police initially refused to register a complaint — accepting it only after persistent pressure, according to the CPM. Separately, a Sitalkuchi resident died while working as a migrant worker in Mumbai, and the Left alleged that authorities had not taken adequate steps to repatriate the body.
Mukherjee had announced plans to surround the District Magistrate's office on Tuesday in protest against both incidents. She visited Montu Mia's family in the afternoon before the attack took place on her return through Sitalkuchi Bazaar. Former party MP Alokesh Das was also present in the vehicle at the time.
The Attack and Mukherjee's Response
A group of individuals targeted the car with eggs as it passed through the market area. Mukherjee alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers were responsible and accused the local police of inaction. Refusing to leave the scene, she said, 'This is the BJP. First, the arrests must be made. Then I will leave. What is my crime? The car will stand here. The car will not move.'
She subsequently proceeded to the Cooch Behar Superintendent of Police's office, filed a written complaint, and sat on a dharna outside the premises. Even after the complaint was submitted, she alleged, no arrests had been made. 'Can't we walk in the streets with our lives and dignity? Is this called the rule of law?' she said.
BJP Denies Involvement
BJP's Cooch Behar district president Abhijit Barman flatly denied any party connection to the attack. He attributed the incident to spontaneous public anger rather than organised political action. 'The CPM is now seeing the BJP everywhere. That is why they are trying to blame the BJP for everything. If the common people throw eggs, the BJP will not take responsibility for it. Because no BJP worker will go and throw eggs at them,' Barman said.
Broader Political Context
The incident adds to a pattern of political confrontations in West Bengal, where CPM and BJP have repeatedly clashed over law-and-order grievances in border districts. Cooch Behar has seen intermittent political violence over the past several years, and the Left's allegations of police partisanship echo complaints it has raised in other districts of the state. The dharna at the SP's office signals that the CPM intends to sustain pressure on the district administration over both the Montu Mia death and the migrant worker case.
Point of View
If substantiated, points to a structural problem: in West Bengal's hyper-partisan environment, law enforcement credibility in opposition-facing incidents remains persistently contested. The BJP's 'common man anger' defence, meanwhile, is a well-worn deflection that rarely survives scrutiny when the target is a named opposition leader in a politically charged district.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Minakshi Mukherjee in Cooch Behar?
CPM central committee member Minakshi Mukherjee had eggs thrown at her car in Sitalkuchi Bazaar, Cooch Behar, on 7 July while returning from a visit to the family of deceased party worker Montu Mia. She broadcast the attack live on social media and later filed a complaint at the Cooch Behar SP's office.
Who does the CPM blame for the egg attack?
Mukherjee alleged that BJP workers carried out the attack and accused the local police of inaction. She refused to leave the scene until arrests were made, and subsequently sat on a dharna outside the Superintendent of Police's office.
What did the BJP say about the incident?
BJP's Cooch Behar district president Abhijit Barman denied any party involvement, calling the attack an outcome of public anger rather than an organised BJP action. He said no BJP worker would throw eggs at the CPM leader.
Why was Minakshi Mukherjee in Sitalkuchi?
She visited Sitalkuchi to meet the family of CPM activist Montu Mia, who died two days earlier. The CPM claims the family suspects murder and that police initially refused to register a complaint. A protest against the DM's office was also planned for the same day.
What is the status of the police complaint?
Mukherjee submitted a written complaint to the Cooch Behar Superintendent of Police's office after the attack. She alleged that even after the complaint was filed, no arrests had been made, prompting her to sit on a dharna at the SP's premises.
