Trinamool files police complaint over knife attack attempt on Mamata Banerjee in Kalighat
Synopsis
A TMC complaint filed at Kalighat Police Station on Tuesday alleges a woman tried to attack former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with a knife near her home — prompting the party to publicly question whether sitting CM Suvendu Adhikari wanted his predecessor 'alive.' The incident has exposed a jurisdictional fault line between West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police, and could sharply escalate an already volatile Bengal political rivalry.
Key Takeaways
Trinamool Congress filed a police complaint at Kalighat Police Station, Kolkata , on 13 October 2026 alleging an attack attempt on former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee .
The alleged attacker, identified as Tannishtha Saha , reportedly a civic volunteer, allegedly approached Banerjee with a knife at approximately 6:00 pm near her Kalighat residence.
TMC Joint General Secretary Dola Sen filed the complaint under Section 173 of the BNSS , attaching photos and videos as evidence.
Sen alleged that West Bengal Police constables present refused to act, citing jurisdictional limits, and that the accused was ‘served tea’ by police.
TMC questioned whether Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was indifferent to Banerjee’s safety; BJP and Kolkata Police had not responded at the time of reporting.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, filed a formal police complaint at Kalighat Police Station in Kolkata, alleging that a woman attempted to attack former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with a knife near her residence. The complaint was submitted via email by TMC Joint General Secretary Dola Sen, and has triggered a political storm over the security arrangements around a Z-plus category protectee.
What the Complaint Alleges
According to the email complaint lodged by Sen, the alleged incident took place at approximately 6:00 pm on Tuesday. A woman identified as Tannishtha Saha, reportedly a civic volunteer and described as a drug addict, allegedly attempted to approach Mamata Banerjee with a knife near her Kalighat home. The complaint further states that the alleged attacker claimed to be a niece of the former Chief Minister.
“She was hurling abuses, and in an intoxicated state, she tried to violently approach Mamata Banerjee. It is concerning that someone reached near the residence of a Z-plus category security-protected person,” the email complaint from Sen reads.
The Request to Police
The complaint formally requested the officer-in-charge to record the matter as information under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and take cognisance of photos and videos submitted along with the filing. The legal provision cited indicates the TMC is seeking an official record rather than an FIR at this stage, though the party has reserved the right to escalate.
Jurisdictional Row and Police Response
Sen told reporters that after the incident, she alerted two police constables present at the scene. However, she alleged they declined to intervene, stating they were from West Bengal Police and that the area falls under Kolkata Police jurisdiction. “The accused woman was taken away by the police and served tea,” Sen said, suggesting the response was inadequate. At the time of filing, Kolkata Police had not issued any official statement on the matter.
Political Escalation
The Trinamool Congress swiftly politicised the incident, with Sen questioning whether incumbent Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari — a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and political adversary of Banerjee — “did not want his predecessor to be alive.” The BJP had not responded to the allegations as of the time of this report. The charge is one of the most serious levelled by the TMC against the state’s current ruling setup, and comes amid an already fractious political climate in West Bengal.
Context and What Happens Next
This is not the first time security arrangements around Mamata Banerjee have come under scrutiny. The incident, if verified, raises pointed questions about coordination between West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police — two forces that operate under separate chains of command. Investigators are expected to examine the CCTV footage and other material submitted with the complaint. A formal FIR and further legal action could follow depending on the police’s initial inquiry. All allegations remain unverified pending an official investigation.
Point of View
Which operate under separate authorities and frequently pass the buck in precisely these situations. A Z-plus protectee being approached by a knife-wielding individual — however the attacker’s mental state is later assessed — is a serious security lapse that demands an institutional answer, not just a political one. Until Kolkata Police and the state government respond officially, every assertion in this complaint remains unverified.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the alleged attack on Mamata Banerjee in Kalighat?
According to a police complaint filed by TMC Joint General Secretary Dola Sen, a woman named Tannishtha Saha allegedly attempted to approach former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with a knife near her Kalighat residence at around 6:00 pm on 13 October 2026. The complaint describes the alleged attacker as a civic volunteer who was reportedly in an intoxicated state at the time.
Who filed the police complaint and where?
TMC Joint General Secretary Dola Sen filed the complaint via email with the officer-in-charge of Kalighat Police Station in Kolkata. The filing requested action under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and included photos and videos as supporting material.
What is the TMC’s political charge in this matter?
TMC’s Dola Sen publicly questioned whether Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari — a BJP leader and Mamata Banerjee’s key political rival — did not want his predecessor to remain alive. The BJP had not responded to the allegation as of the time of reporting, and the charges remain unsubstantiated pending police investigation.
Why is there a jurisdictional controversy over the police response?
Sen alleged that West Bengal Police constables present at the scene declined to intervene, stating the area falls under Kolkata Police jurisdiction. West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police operate under separate administrative chains of command, and this boundary dispute reportedly delayed any immediate action against the alleged attacker.
What security cover does Mamata Banerjee have?
Mamata Banerjee is protected under Z-plus category security, which is among the highest levels of personal protection provided in India. The TMC complaint specifically highlighted that the alleged breach near her residence raises serious questions about the effectiveness of those arrangements.
