'They wanted to kill me': TMC's Abhishek Banerjee attacked by mob, eggs & stones hurled - Watch

NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was beaten and pelted with stones, during a visit to West Bengal’s Sonarpur South on Saturday, where he was meeting families affected by post-poll violence.According to police, stones, eggs and shoes were hurled at Banerjee as he travelled through South 24 Parganas. Witnesses said a group of unidentified people shouted “thief” slogans, threw objects at the TMC MP and allegedly tried to physically assault him during the visit.Videos from the scene showed Banerjee being escorted away by security personnel wearing a police helmet, with his shirt visibly torn in the scuffle.The TMC leader had gone to meet the family of slain party worker Sanju Karmakar and other families who, according to the party, were targeted after the assembly election results.Also read: ‘Even if you slit my throat … ‘: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee defiant after FIR, CID summons

‘They wanted to kill me’

Reacting to the incident, Banerjee who looked visibly shaken after the attack, accused the BJP of being behind it. “It’s all BJP-sponsored. Look what they have done. This is their example of democracy. It hasn’t even been a month, and the police are nowhere to be seen,” he told reporters.“…They wanted to kill me… The whole incident has been captured on camera. We will definitely let the high court know about this. We will also let the governor know about this… I will definitely move to court…” he added.The visit marked Banerjee’s first major public appearance since the TMC’s defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections 26 days ago. He was also scheduled to visit families of other party workers allegedly affected by post-poll violence in Sonarpur South and Beleghata.Earlier in the day, the West Bengal CID served Banerjee a notice directing him to appear before investigators at Bhabani Bhawan, the agency’s headquarters in Kolkata, at noon on June 1. Responding to the summon, Banerjee said he would consult his legal team before responding. “I am yet to see the content of the notice. I will consult with my lawyers and make an appropriate response. I will surely cooperate with the probe in whatever manner possible,” he said.Banerjee accused multiple agencies of being used to target him and has maintained that he will cooperate with the investigation while continuing his political activities.“Let them do whatever they want. They can do whatever they want. Understand it this way, earlier it was just ED, CBI and now it is Bengal Police and Kolkata Police too, along with KMC (Kolkata Municipal Corporation),” Banerjee said.“There were 2-3 investigation agencies earlier and now it is 5. They think they will send 5-6 agencies after me and blackmail me into cowering down. I am not a person like that,” he added.The summons relates to a CID probe into the alleged use of forged signatures of Trinamool Congress legislators in a communication submitted to the West Bengal Assembly Secretariat supporting senior TMC leader Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay for the post of leader of the opposition.Also read: From Z-plus security to stripped surveillance: Why cops landed at Abhishek Banerjee’s residence

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