Kolkata Police issues 2-month prohibitory order near Abhishek Banerjee's Kalighat home after BJP-TMC clashes
Synopsis
Kolkata Police imposed a two-month prohibitory order around Abhishek Banerjee's Kalighat home after BJP and TMC workers clashed in the early hours of his 39th birthday. Abhishek has called it the seventh attempt on his life in six months — a claim that has drawn no public response yet from his aunt and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.
Key Takeaways
Kolkata Police issued a two-month prohibitory order under Section 163 BNSS near Abhishek Banerjee's Kalighat residence on 7 November 2026 .
Clashes between BJP and TMC workers broke out between 2:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. during Abhishek's 39th birthday celebrations.
Violence included stone-pelting and scuffles; police used baton charges to disperse crowds; several people from both sides were injured.
Abhishek Banerjee alleged it was the seventh attempt on his life in six months and accused BJP supporters of ransacking a nearby TMC party office.
The restricted zone covers Kalighat Bridge , Balaram Bose Ghat Road , Harish Mukherjee Road , and Hazra Road .
Mamata Banerjee had not issued any public statement on the clashes as of Saturday morning.
Kolkata Police on Saturday, 7 November 2026, invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, issuing a two-month prohibitory order restricting public assembly in the area surrounding the Kalighat residence of Abhishek Banerjee, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha member from Diamond Harbour constituency in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. The move came hours after violent clashes erupted between BJP and TMC workers during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, when Abhishek was marking his 39th birthday.
What the Prohibitory Order Covers
According to city police, the order took effect from Saturday morning and will remain in force for two months. The restricted zone runs from Kalighat Bridge and extends to Balaram Bose Ghat Road, Harish Mukherjee Road, and Hazra Road — all arterial routes in the vicinity of Abhishek's residence. Authorities have simultaneously intensified surveillance across the area to prevent any further gatherings near the premises.
How the Clashes Unfolded
TMC workers and supporters had gathered in front of Abhishek's Kalighat home after midnight on Friday to celebrate his birthday. According to police sources, BJP workers reportedly arrived at the spot at around 2:30 a.m. and began raising slogans of 'thief, thief'. TMC supporters alleged that birthday banners, cutouts, and pictures of Abhishek were torn down by the BJP workers. When TMC supporters attempted to intervene, an altercation broke out that escalated into scuffles and stone-pelting. The clashes continued in phases until approximately 3:30 a.m., according to police sources. A large police contingent reached the scene and resorted to baton charges to disperse both groups. Several people from both sides were injured in the incident, police sources confirmed.
Abhishek's Allegations and Sit-In Protest
Abhishek came out of his residence during the violence and met injured supporters. 'There is a plot to attack and kill me,' he said at the scene. He subsequently launched a sit-in protest outside his home, entering into an argument with on-duty police officers when they requested him to disperse to prevent further escalation. He finally returned inside at around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, after police intervention.
In a social media statement, Abhishek launched what he described as a sharp attack against the BJP and police. 'After two days of continuous recce, this is how BJP hooligans attacked my house at 2 a.m. today. Watch the footage and see for yourself. If this is what can happen to an elected Member of Parliament, imagine the plight of the common man in West Bengal,' he wrote. He added: 'This is the seventh attempt on my life in the last six months. Yet, there has been no police action and no judicial intervention. Hooligans are running riot across the state because the judiciary continues to turn a blind eye. Thank you, Milords, for remaining mute spectators.' He attached photographs and video footage of the incident to his post.
Political Context and TMC Leadership Response
Abhishek Banerjee is also the nephew of Mamata Banerjee, the former West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo. As of the time of reporting, Mamata Banerjee had not issued any public statement or media comment on the clashes, despite Abhishek claiming this was the seventh attempt on his life in six months. Critics argue the silence is conspicuous given the seniority of the target. The incident adds to a pattern of political confrontations in West Bengal between the ruling TMC and the BJP, which has been seeking to consolidate its opposition presence in the state ahead of the next assembly election cycle.
What Happens Next
The two-month prohibitory order is likely to be tested by both political sides in the coming weeks, with the area around Kalighat now under heightened police watch. No arrests had been confirmed by early Saturday morning, and BJP has yet to issue a formal counter-statement. Whether the police investigation leads to any criminal proceedings — and against which side — will be closely watched by political observers in the state.
Point of View
Not the disease. If Abhishek Banerjee's claim of a seventh attempt on his life in six months is even partially accurate, it points to a law-and-order environment in West Bengal that has normalised political violence at a scale rarely seen in a large Indian state. What is conspicuous is Mamata Banerjee's silence — when the target is her own nephew and a senior party MP, the absence of any statement invites the question of whether the TMC leadership sees political cost in visibly rallying around him. The judiciary jab in Abhishek's post is a provocation that courts will find difficult to ignore. With assembly elections on the horizon, this incident will almost certainly be weaponised by both BJP and dissident TMC factions.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kolkata Police issue a prohibitory order near Abhishek Banerjee's residence?
Kolkata Police issued the prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, following violent clashes between BJP and TMC workers near Abhishek Banerjee's Kalighat home in the early hours of 7 November 2026. The order restricts public assembly in the area for two months to prevent further escalation.
What happened during the clashes at Kalighat on the night of 7 November?
BJP workers reportedly arrived at Abhishek Banerjee's Kalighat residence at around 2:30 a.m. while TMC supporters were celebrating his 39th birthday, and began shouting slogans and allegedly tearing down birthday banners. This led to an altercation that escalated into stone-pelting and scuffles between the two groups, with several people from both sides injured. Police used baton charges to disperse the crowd.
What has Abhishek Banerjee claimed about the incident?
Abhishek Banerjee has alleged that the clash was a deliberate attempt on his life, calling it the seventh such attempt in the last six months. In a social media statement, he accused BJP supporters of attacking his home after two days of reconnaissance and criticised both the police and the judiciary for inaction.
How long will the prohibitory order remain in force and which areas does it cover?
The prohibitory order will remain in effect for two months from Saturday, 7 November 2026. It covers the stretch from Kalighat Bridge to Balaram Bose Ghat Road, Harish Mukherjee Road, and Hazra Road — all roads in the vicinity of Abhishek Banerjee's residence in South Kolkata.
Has Mamata Banerjee responded to the clashes?
As of Saturday morning, Mamata Banerjee had not issued any public statement or given any media comment on the clashes outside her nephew Abhishek Banerjee's residence. The silence has been noted given the gravity of his claims.
