The Mamata faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged that a woman tried to attack former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee outside her residence in Kolkata's Kalighat as she stepped out to inaugurate a Durga Puja pandal.

According to allegations levelled by the Mamata camp, the young woman arrived outside the former Chief Minister's residence in Kalighat. Banerjee's saree was allegedly tugged at, and a knife was reportedly found in the woman's possession.

Mamata Banerjee's party workers caught the woman and subsequently handed her over to the Kalighat police. Before handing her over, the workers pinned her to the ground and confronted her, while the alleged attacker remained defiant.7

As per local media reports, the alleged incident took place around 6 pm, when the woman ran towards Mamata Banerjee, addressing her as "pishi" (aunt). She allegedly tried to throw herself at Banerjee before lying on the road and hurling abuses.

Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen reportedly said the woman was under the influence of drugs and had a knife in her hand. She allegedly tried to enter the crowd by claiming to be Mamata Banerjee's niece.

Mamata's aides have raised questions over the security arrangements for the former Chief Minister following the alleged incident.

The Kolkata Police said necessary action had been taken against the accused, Anusua Saha, 38. In a statement, it said, "An incident occurred at the residence of the former Chief Minister when she was exiting the residence. One Anusua Saha confronted her, leading to a heated altercation. The woman was subsequently detained by the police personnel on duty. Meanwhile, a complaint was lodged by TMC members."

Earlier today, members of Mamata Banerjee's faction staged a demonstration in Kolkata's Rajabazar area, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR exercise, after she returned from Delhi following meetings with the Gandhis and other INDIA bloc leaders amid the SIR row.

The party's student and youth wings had planned a march from Rajabazar to Park Circus, but police stopped them, citing the lack of permission for the programme.

The workers then held their protest at Rajabazar, raising slogans against the BJP and the CEC. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction said the police had been informed by e-mail, while Kolkata Police said no official intimation had been received and maintained that written permission was required for such a rally.

Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh said the march had been organised by the party's student and youth wings and claimed that the police had been informed in advance. "However, since this morning, police and central forces are blocking the road. Party workers who want to come here are being stopped. We are peacefully agitating against Gyanesh Kumar. This has pained the BJP because Gyanesh Kumar did 'vote chori' to benefit them," he alleged.

On Monday, Suvendu Adhikari had said he had asked the Kolkata Police commissioner not to allow the rally during the Durga Puja celebrations and warned Mamata against stepping her out of her house. "We will not allow them to come out. I have instructed the CP that the rally shouldn't move a step forward from Rajabazar. If required, I have asked him to deploy central forces," he had said.

Responding to the remarks, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the TMC said in a social media post, "WHY IS @SuvenduWB SO RATTLED? And what do you mean by saying you won't allow protest marches? What do you mean by threatening to deploy Central Forces against peaceful protesters? Is this a democracy or a joke?" The party also said the state had rarely witnessed such a "disturbing political climate - one marked by authoritarian tendencies, an excessive display of power, and a blatant disregard for the spirit of the Indian Constitution".

In the same post, the party added, "It is a mockery of democracy! Such statements from a sitting Chief Minister are deeply disturbing and wholly unbecoming of a constitutional office. @BJP4India, is this what you stand for?" The demonstration remained confined to Rajabazar after the police stopped the planned march to Park Circus, with the party continuing to demand Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over the SIR exercise.

Source: PTI