Former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (File photo)
NEW DELHI: Security was tightened outside the residence of former West Bengal chief minister and TMC boss Mamata Banerjee on Saturday as central forces were deployed ahead of her scheduled visit to Baruipur, where a 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered.The incident took place in South 24 Parganas district. Jadavpur MP Saayoni Ghosh, in a post on X, said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the case. She also said she had spoken to chief minister Suvendu Adhikari.The Trinamool Congress, however, criticised the deployment of central forces outside Banerjee’s residence.TMC MP Dola Sen questioned whether the move was an attempt to place the former chief minister under house arrest, calling it a “super emergency.”Dola Sen told reporters, “What is going on in Bengal and Kolkata? Everyone knows what happened in Baruipur. Didi (Mamata Banerjee) is a mass leader. She wanted to go there after such a heinous incident had happened. But have they house arrested her? By doing this, will they be able to stop Didi? I had to come here because of this. So many police administration deployed here without any reason. This is not right, whatever the police administration is doing. This is a super emergency.”TMC leader Madan Mitra said, “Didi is meeting party workers at her residence. What can the police really do? Someone has to raise slogans. You can’t just keep committing one-sided atrocities while the public quietly accepts it; that’s not how it works. Just as there are calls for justice regarding the RG Kar incident, there should be justice here in Baruipur too.”Meanwhile, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee criticised the BJP over the Baruipur incident, alleging that the party had failed to deliver on its promise of ensuring women’s safety.In a post on X, Abhishek Banerjee wrote, “@BJP4India doesn’t just fail women; it fosters a climate where those accused of heinous crimes appear to believe they enjoy political protection. Where political connections seem to influence justice. Where influence appears to speak louder than the rule of law. Where disturbing questions arise over whether political pressure is overshadowing the pursuit of justice. That is the real tragedy behind the Baruipur horror!”He further wrote, “BJP came to Bengal promising women’s safety and security. Instead, every such incident raises fresh questions about its HOLLOW PROMISES. The silence is equally telling. No protests. No outrage. No demands for accountability. No demands for resignations. No sudden awakening of conscience. When justice becomes selective, and outrage becomes political, it is not only the victim who suffers; it is society that pays the price. Extremely shameful state of affairs.”
