Mamata Banerjee cries "house arrest" after cops, central forces deployed near Kalighat residence

In a major political development in West Bengal, former Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee faced opposition from heavy deployment of police and central forces outside her Kalighat residence on July 5. The move included barricades and multiple vehicles and came at a time when she planned to visit the family of an 11-year-old girl allegedly raped and murdered in Baruipur. whose body was later found stuffed in a sack. Banerjee alleged that the security measures amounted to an unofficial "house arrest" and stopped her from expressing solidarity with the grieving family.

"Alarming visuals from the same lane outside the homes of @MamataOfficial and @abhishekaitc  in Kalighat. Why are central forces being deployed to restrict freedom of movement and confine them to their homes? A route march is happening now. Confinement using force!" read a post on X by Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien. Other TM leaders also strongly condemned the move, sharing media and footage of CRPF personnel and police forces at the residence, as an attempt to restrict the movement of their leaders. The police have not officially released a statement on the deployment, while the Baruipur case itself has triggered widespread outrage and protests by locals. The BJP government dismissed the allegations.

Last night, Mamata Banerjee spoke to the family of the victim over the phone, providing her condolences and assuring them of her support in these trying times. Mamata revealed the same in a Facebook Live, further questioning the purpose of the confinement at her residence by state and central forces.