Meenakshi Mukherjee moves Calcutta HC after egg attack on her car in Cooch Behar
Synopsis
CPI(M) leader Meenakshi Mukherjee was pelted with eggs in Sitalkuchi while visiting the family of a party worker whose death the CPI(M) calls suspicious — and the Calcutta High Court has now agreed to hear her petition seeking protection. With police accused of inaction and the BJP denying all involvement, the incident has escalated into a judicial matter with broader implications for political freedom of movement in West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
Meenakshi Mukherjee moved the Calcutta High Court on 8 July after eggs were pelted at her car in Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar .
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya allowed the petition to be filed; the case will be heard once filing is complete.
The attack occurred as Mukherjee was returning from meeting the family of CPI(M) activist Montu Mia , whose death the party alleges was a murder.
Mukherjee accused BJP workers of carrying out the attack and alleged police inaction despite a written complaint to the Cooch Behar SP .
BJP district president Abhijit Barman denied party involvement, calling it an expression of public anger.
The CPI(M) plans to surround the District Magistrate's office in protest over the attack and a separate migrant worker death case.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Meenakshi Mukherjee on Wednesday, 8 July approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking judicial intervention after eggs were pelted at her car during a visit to Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district of North Bengal the previous day. The petition was placed before a single bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, who allowed the filing of the case and said it would be heard as per procedure once the process is completed.
What Happened in Sitalkuchi
On Tuesday afternoon, Mukherjee had travelled to Sitalkuchi to meet the family of Montu Mia, a CPI(M) activist who died two days earlier under circumstances the party describes as suspicious. The CPI(M) alleged that the family believes Mia was murdered and that police were initially reluctant to register a complaint, accepting it only much later.
As Mukherjee's car was returning through Sitalkuchi Bazaar, a group of individuals began hurling eggs at the vehicle. The projectiles struck the windshield repeatedly. Mukherjee, who was accompanied by former party MP Alokesh Das, broadcast a live video on social media from inside the car as the attack unfolded, showing eggs landing on the windshield one after another.
Mukherjee's Complaint and Dharna
Following the attack, Mukherjee proceeded to the office of the Cooch Behar Superintendent of Police, where she submitted a written complaint. Dissatisfied with the response, she staged a dharna outside the SP's office, alleging that no arrests had been made despite the complaint. 'Can't we walk in the streets with our lives and dignity? Is this called the rule of law?' she said.
In court, her lawyer Abhishek Halder urged the bench to intervene and prevent such attacks in the future, framing the petition as a matter of the safety of political leaders visiting constituents.
BJP Denies Involvement
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Cooch Behar district president Abhijit Barman denied any party connection to the incident. 'The CPI(M) 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. The CPI(M), however, has alleged that BJP workers carried out the attack and accused the police of inaction.
The Broader Grievances
The Sitalkuchi visit was also linked to a second unresolved matter: a local resident who died while working in Mumbai as a migrant worker, whose body the Left alleges has not been repatriated despite requests. The CPI(M) has announced plans to surround the District Magistrate's office in protest against both incidents.
With the Calcutta High Court now seized of the matter, the case will test whether the judiciary steps in to address what the opposition describes as a pattern of political intimidation in West Bengal.
Point of View
And where police responsiveness is openly questioned. That Mukherjee had to approach the High Court simply to ensure her complaint is acted upon underscores how far institutional trust has eroded in the state's political ecosystem. The BJP's denial — framing the attack as 'public anger' rather than party conduct — is a familiar deflection that the court will now have to weigh against the video evidence Mukherjee herself captured. The deeper question is whether judicial intervention can substitute for the routine law enforcement that should have followed a written complaint to the SP's office.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Meenakshi Mukherjee approach the Calcutta High Court?
Mukherjee petitioned the Calcutta High Court seeking intervention after eggs were pelted at her car in Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar on 8 July. She alleged that police failed to arrest the accused despite a written complaint, prompting her to seek judicial protection against such attacks.
What was Meenakshi Mukherjee doing in Sitalkuchi when the attack occurred?
She had gone to Sitalkuchi to meet the family of CPI(M) activist Montu Mia, who died two days earlier under circumstances the party considers suspicious. The attack took place as her car was returning through Sitalkuchi Bazaar.
What did the Calcutta High Court say about the petition?
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya allowed Mukherjee to file the case and stated it would be heard as per procedure once the filing process is completed. No interim order has been reported yet.
Did the BJP admit involvement in the egg attack?
No. BJP Cooch Behar district president Abhijit Barman denied any party connection, saying the incident reflected public anger and that no BJP worker would throw eggs at the CPI(M) leader. The CPI(M) has maintained that BJP workers were responsible.
What other issues did Meenakshi Mukherjee raise in Cooch Behar?
Apart from the egg attack and the suspicious death of Montu Mia, Mukherjee raised the case of a Sitalkuchi resident who died while working in Mumbai as a migrant worker, alleging that authorities have not taken steps to repatriate the body. The CPI(M) plans to protest outside the District Magistrate's office over both issues.
