Kolkata, June 20 (IANS) The police on Saturday arrested five Trinamool Congress workers, including Debashis Banerjee, councillor of Ward No. 15 of South Dum Dum Municipality, in connection with the fight that erupted outside Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had travelled to Delhi on Friday to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, where he reportedly challenged the merger of rebel Trinamool MPs with the National Citizens’ Party of India (NCPI).

Trinamool alleged that a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporter was standing at the airport exit with a firearm when Banerjee was about to leave. A fight broke out between Trinamool workers, who were there to welcome him, and BJP workers.

According to Trinamool, BJP supporters had gathered to protest against Abhishek Banerjee and had planned to throw eggs at him. The party also alleged that the protestors carried firearms. A clash ensued between the two groups, creating chaos. However, Banerjee was escorted out safely through an alternate exit.

BJP lodged a complaint at the airport police station on Friday night against Trinamool workers. Following the complaint, police checked CCTV footage and arrested five Trinamool workers on Saturday.

Police sources claimed that the arrested councillor, Debashis Banerjee, is close to former state Education Minister Bratya Basu.

After the incident, Abhishek Banerjee raised concerns over security measures in West Bengal.

In a post on X, he wrote: “Last night at Kolkata Airport, shortly after I landed from Delhi, a shocking incident took place. Armed individuals were apprehended, leading to serious questions about security and the lengths to which some are willing to go.”

He further alleged that the incident had received inadequate coverage in the mainstream media. “You are unlikely to see this story covered adequately by the mainstream media,” he added.

–IANS

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