Mamata Banerjee alleges BJP 'hooliganism' outside Kolkata home, cites 70 murders
Synopsis
Mamata Banerjee, now in opposition in West Bengal, used a New Delhi press conference to mount her most sweeping public offensive yet against the BJP state government — alleging 70 murders, 45 rapes, police capture by the ruling party, and 200-300 'hooligans' deployed outside her Kolkata home. Her nephew Abhishek Banerjee added EVM mismatch allegations, raising the political temperature further.
Key Takeaways
Mamata Banerjee alleged on 1 October that 200-300 BJP-linked individuals are conducting 'hooliganism' outside her Kolkata residence.
She claimed more than 70 murders and more than 45 rapes — including of girl children and adivasis — have occurred in West Bengal with police inaction.
Banerjee alleged her security cover was withdrawn by the BJP government and that she needs court orders to leave her home.
Abhishek Banerjee MP alleged EVM serial number mismatches between control units and balloting units at counting centres, citing Form 17C discrepancies.
Both leaders alleged that several Trinamool MLAs remain jailed for refusing to switch to the 'rival faction'.
The BJP is yet to issue a detailed public response to the allegations.
All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday, 1 October levelled sharp allegations against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that hundreds of BJP-linked individuals were 'engaging in hooliganism' outside her Kolkata residence while accusing the state police of failing to act on what she described as widespread atrocities in West Bengal.
What Banerjee Alleged
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Banerjee alleged that her movement had been curtailed and that she required court orders simply to leave her own home. 'Police officers are knocking on the doors of my party leaders, warning them to join the rival faction or go to jail...terrible atrocities are going on in Bengal. I am not allowed to move out of my house without court orders,' she said.
She further alleged that 'more than 70 people have been murdered, more than 45 rapes have taken place, including of girl children and adivasis...but police are not taking any cognisance.' The BJP government has not yet responded publicly to these specific numerical claims, and they remain unverified independently.
Charges Against Police and Administration
Banerjee alleged a systematic conversion of law enforcement infrastructure to serve the ruling party's interests. 'Local police stations in Bengal have become BJP's block office and the headquarters of District officers have been converted to their Zilla office. The police headquarters have become their state Committee office,' she alleged.
She also claimed that security had been withdrawn from her residence by the BJP government, while simultaneously accusing the government of falsely claiming she continued to receive Z-plus security cover. 'On the instructions of the present government, 200-300 hooligans are engaging in hooliganism in front of my house...even women are not safe,' she alleged.
Economic and Social Conditions Under Attack
Banerjee painted a grim picture of daily life in Kolkata, alleging that the city's once-vibrant street economy had been hollowed out. 'People are unable to open their shops now. Kolkata used to be so lively; now there are no people on roads after 8 pm...hawkers are homeless, their livelihoods have been snatched,' she alleged. She went further, claiming that 'people linked to the BJP are even looting the donation boxes at temples, calling it their property' — an allegation that could not be independently verified.
Election Integrity Allegations by Abhishek Banerjee
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, also present at the press conference, raised concerns about the conduct of the recently held West Bengal Assembly elections. He alleged EVM irregularities, stating: 'We received many such reports where the serial numbers of EVMs control unit and balloting unit at the counting centre did not match with what was recorded in Form 17C.'
Responding to the National Commission for Persons with Intellectual and related Communication Disabilities (NCPI) reportedly seeking a Bharat Ratna for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Abhishek Banerjee said: 'If he can be given Bharat Ratna for vote chori, then please reward him.' He also alleged that voter deletions in several constituencies exceeded the winning margins, and that several Trinamool MLAs and leaders 'are still languishing in jails' for refusing to switch allegiances.
Context and What Comes Next
This comes amid an intensifying political conflict in West Bengal following the assembly elections, with Trinamool Congress now in opposition at the state level. The allegations mark one of Banerjee's most comprehensive public attacks on the BJP administration since the political transition. Critics argue that such press conferences, while politically charged, have so far not resulted in formal legal complaints or court interventions from the Trinamool side. The BJP is yet to issue a detailed rebuttal to Thursday's allegations. How the Election Commission of India responds to the EVM mismatch claims flagged by Abhishek Banerjee will be a key development to watch.
Point of View
And shaping that narrative from New Delhi gives it national amplification. The specificity of numbers (70 murders, 45 rapes, 200-300 hooligans) is striking, but without formal complaints or independent verification, these figures hang in the air. What mainstream coverage is missing is the legal asymmetry: if the situation is as described, the absence of Supreme Court PILs or documented FIR rejections from Trinamool's side is conspicuous. The EVM mismatch allegations from Abhishek Banerjee are potentially more consequential — Form 17C discrepancies, if documented, invite Election Commission scrutiny — but lumping them with rhetorical charges dilutes their evidentiary weight.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mamata Banerjee allege at her New Delhi press conference?
Mamata Banerjee alleged on 1 October that BJP-linked individuals are conducting 'hooliganism' outside her Kolkata residence, that her security has been withdrawn, and that she requires court orders to leave her home. She also alleged more than 70 murders and 45 rapes in West Bengal with police taking no action.
What EVM allegations did Abhishek Banerjee raise?
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee alleged that serial numbers of EVMs' control units and balloting units at counting centres did not match what was recorded in Form 17C. He also alleged that voter deletions in several constituencies exceeded the winning margins.
Has the BJP responded to Mamata Banerjee's allegations?
As of the time of this report, the BJP had not issued a detailed public rebuttal to the specific allegations made by Mamata Banerjee at Thursday's press conference.
What is the political context behind these allegations?
Trinamool Congress is now in opposition in West Bengal following the state assembly elections, with the BJP forming the government. Banerjee's allegations mark one of her most comprehensive public attacks since the political transition, with the party claiming its MLAs and leaders face persecution.
What did Mamata Banerjee say about Kolkata's street economy?
Banerjee alleged that hawkers have been rendered homeless, shops cannot open freely, and the city's streets are deserted after 8 pm. She also alleged that BJP-linked individuals have been looting temple donation boxes, though this claim could not be independently verified.
