Kolkata, November 7: Political tensions escalated in Kolkata on Saturday after West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee joined a protest following an alleged attack on the residence of party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in Kalighat, south Kolkata, around 2 am.

Abhishek Banerjee alleged that his residence and office were targeted by a group of people whom he described as "BJP goons". He claimed that the attackers had conducted reconnaissance in the area for two consecutive days before carrying out the alleged incident. He further claimed that it was the seventh attempt on his life in the past six months and criticised the Kolkata Police and the judiciary over what he described as a lack of action.

According to police and party sources, clashes broke out between TMC workers, who had gathered to celebrate Abhishek Banerjee's 39th birthday, and alleged BJP supporters between 2 am and 3:30 am. At least eight people were reportedly injured, including three who sustained serious injuries.

Following the incident, a large police contingent was deployed in the area, with security personnel sealing off the locality. Several people were reportedly detained in connection with the overnight violence.

Mamata Banerjee reached Abhishek Banerjee's Kalighat residence later in the morning and strongly condemned the incident, accusing the BJP of encouraging hooliganism and deliberately disrupting traditional Kali Puja and Diwali celebrations in the locality.

Questioning the alleged attack ahead of the festive occasions, the Chief Minister said that the area was an important route for religious processions and accused the authorities of creating obstacles for longstanding community celebrations. She also claimed to have written to the Lok Sabha Speaker, raising concerns over the alleged deterioration of law and order.

"Tomorrow is Kali Puja and Diwali. Last night, at 2 am, an attack was carried out at Abhishek Banerjee's house. This is our locality, a route through which many processions of Goddess Kali pass. Why are you causing such a disturbance? You have revoked permissions for our traditional, long-standing pujas while allowing new ones to be held instead. Furthermore, you prevented our local clubs from functioning last night. We are part of the INDIA alliance, and this is the reason for their anger," Mamata Banerjee said.

Accusing the BJP of deliberately creating unrest, she alleged that groups of people were arriving in the locality during the early hours to disrupt the activities of TMC workers and local organisations.

"There is complete hooliganism going on. People show up here at 2 or 3 in the morning. If you dare to use a bulldozer, why do you come here at 3 in the morning with a gang of thugs to attack a Kali Puja celebration? We are carrying out party-related work here, and you are coming to disrupt it," she said.

The TMC chief also raised questions over the alleged withdrawal of permissions for traditional community pujas while a new celebration was reportedly allowed to be organised on the main road.

"This is completely illegal. Look at the club in our area; they wouldn't let us carry on with our activities all night long. Look at the puja that has been set up right on the main road; it was granted illegal permission. A puja was never held there before; it used to take place inside. Yesterday evening, around 9 pm, they placed it right at the road bend, effectively blocking access to our own puja. What is this? This is pure high-handedness and oppression. You want to bring in bulldozers? Go ahead — run your bulldozers over us, over our very bodies," she added.

Meanwhile, TMC supporters gathered outside Abhishek Banerjee's residence and raised slogans against the police, expressing anger over the alleged attack and demanding action against those responsible.