Mamata Banerjee slaps TMC worker during Kolkata protest march over Baruipur case
Synopsis
Mamata Banerjee's protest march over the Baruipur rape-murder case turned into a flashpoint — with the former West Bengal Chief Minister slapping one of her own party workers in public view as clashes broke out between TMC and BJP workers. The incident, unfolding under Calcutta High Court-permitted conditions, has handed political rivals fresh ammunition while raising questions about crowd management and police conduct.
Key Takeaways
Mamata Banerjee slapped a TMC party worker in public during a protest march in Kolkata on 8 July .
The march was called against the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur and had received permission from the Calcutta High Court .
Minor clashes reportedly broke out between BJP and TMC workers; TMC alleged its members were assaulted.
Banerjee blamed the police for failing to provide security and allowing BJP workers into the procession.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar criticised Banerjee sharply, saying she had been unable to accept the election outcome.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, 8 July lost her temper and slapped a party worker in full public view during an All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) protest procession in Kolkata, called against the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur. The incident unfolded as the march descended into chaos, with clashes reportedly breaking out between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and TMC workers.
How the Procession Turned Chaotic
The TMC-led march, which had received permission from the Calcutta High Court, began from the Ballygunge outpost and moved towards Hazra Crossing in south Kolkata. Shortly after the procession got under way, slogans of 'Chor Chor' (thief) were raised in the vicinity, and minor clashes reportedly broke out between BJP and TMC workers. The Trinamool Congress alleged that its workers were assaulted during the commotion.
Banerjee subsequently stepped out of her residence in Kalighat, where a large crowd had gathered. As she attempted to restore order, the situation intensified — and she struck a party worker in front of the assembled crowd.
What Mamata Banerjee Said
Addressing those gathered outside her Kalighat home, Banerjee strongly criticised the police and referred to protesters in Baruipur as 'rioters.' She said: 'Students and youth have taken out a procession with the permission of the High Court. Everyone has democratic rights. BJP goons have roamed in front of my house. They shouted. They have scared me. Run the government well.'
She further alleged that TMC workers had been placed under effective house arrest and that police had confiscated their hand microphones. 'From my house to the Ballygunge outpost, they have laid hands on the girls. I went out of the house to save them. I saw blood coming out of the girls' cheeks and chest. Is this the change the people of Bengal wanted? We want rape incidents to decrease. Torture to decrease,' she said.
Banerjee also squarely blamed the police rather than the BJP, stating: 'I do not blame the BJP. The police are to blame. Their responsibility was to provide security. Why did they allow BJP workers to enter the procession? Where is the law? There is more unrest in Uttar Pradesh. This is tantamount to contempt of court. We condemn it.'
BJP's Reaction
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar reacted sharply to the slapping incident. He said: 'Mamata Banerjee has become mentally confused after she was ousted from power. Although all this behaviour is unfortunate, her mental balance has been lost. She is still unable to accept that the people of Bengal have removed her from power.'
Background: The Baruipur Case
The protest procession was organised in response to the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur, a case that has drawn significant public outrage in West Bengal. The TMC, now in opposition following its defeat in the state, has sought to lead the charge on the issue. Notably, this is not the first time a political march over a sensitive crime case in the state has ended in inter-party clashes — a pattern that has repeated itself across several high-profile incidents in recent years.
With the Calcutta High Court already involved in granting the march permission, the reported clashes and the alleged police inaction are likely to face fresh judicial scrutiny in the days ahead.
Point of View
But it raises an uncomfortable question: the police she is now criticising operated under her government for over a decade. The BJP will mine this incident hard. More consequentially, with the Calcutta High Court already in the frame, any finding of police misconduct could embarrass the current state administration. The Baruipur case deserves to remain the headline; instead, it has been displaced by a moment of lost composure.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Mamata Banerjee slap a party worker in Kolkata?
Mamata Banerjee slapped a TMC party worker on 8 July during a protest procession in Kolkata as she attempted to control a crowd that had grown chaotic outside her Kalighat residence. The march had been called against the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur, but clashes between BJP and TMC workers led to a breakdown in order.
What was the Baruipur protest march about?
The TMC-led procession was organised to protest the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur, West Bengal. The Calcutta High Court had granted permission for the march, which began from the Ballygunge outpost and was headed towards Hazra Crossing in south Kolkata.
What did Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar say about the incident?
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said Mamata Banerjee had 'become mentally confused after she was ousted from power' and that 'her mental balance has been lost.' He described her behaviour as unfortunate and said she was still unable to accept the election result.
What did Mamata Banerjee allege about the police?
Banerjee alleged that the police failed in their duty to provide security, allowed BJP workers to enter the procession, confiscated TMC hand microphones, and effectively placed her party workers under house arrest. She said the police's inaction amounted to contempt of the Calcutta High Court's order permitting the march.
What happens next after the Kolkata protest clashes?
With the Calcutta High Court already involved in sanctioning the march, the reported clashes and alleged police inaction are likely to face judicial scrutiny. The Baruipur rape-murder case itself remains under investigation, and the political fallout from Banerjee's public conduct is expected to intensify in the coming days.
