Ex-CPM MP claims 'Hindutva miscreants' attacked Kolkata home, seeks firearm licence

CPI(M) leader and former Rajya Sabha member Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya on Thursday alleged that unidentified ‘Hindutvavadi’ miscreants attacked his residence in south-east Kolkata, damaging window panes and a CCTV camera.A case has been registered following his complaint, and police have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend the accused.Bhattacharya, a senior Calcutta High Court lawyer, also said he would seek a licenced firearm for self-defence.The incident took place around 5 am at Bhattacharya’s residence in Purbalok, Kalikapur, near EM Bypass. According to police, a man with his face covered arrived on a motorcycle and allegedly threw four glass bottles at the house before fleeing towards Daspara Bridge. CCTV footage reviewed by police reportedly captured the incident. The footage showed the unidentified man parking his motorcycle outside the residence before hurling the bottles, while allegedly abusing Bhattacharya and issuing threats. The authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified."Some window panes of the house were damaged in the attack. I heard a very loud sound. My domestic help called me. When I came out, I saw the damage caused," Bhattacharya said in his complaint. He alleged that the attacker warned him not to "mess with us" and described those behind the incident as "Hindutvavadi miscreants". The motive for the attack has not yet been established.According to the police case details, Purba Jadavpur Police Station registered a case on October 8 under sections 324(6), 125, 79, 352 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).The complaint alleges that an unknown person arrived on a motorcycle and threw beer bottles at the residence in a manner that endangered human life, damaged property, used abusive language and issued threats.Police said the investigating officer, SI Hemanta Mukherjee, visited the scene and examined CCTV footage from the residence and adjoining areas.Preliminary information suggests that the accused may be from Bikash Guha Colony or nearby areas under Panchasayar Police Station.Plainclothes surveillance has been deployed, while a police picket has been posted near Bhattacharya’s residence and heightened security is being maintained in the Purbalok area.Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the incident, saying, "I strongly condemn such continuing attacks on the legal fraternity".She stressed that despite political and ideological differences, "the line of decency was never crossed" and called for unity among advocates to protect the Constitution, the Bar and the Bench.Bhattacharya has also convened a citizens’ convention in Kolkata on October 13 with former bureaucrat Jawhar Sircar. Police said the investigation remains underway, with efforts focused on identifying and apprehending the motorcycle-borne accused.- EndsWith PTI inputs