Kolkata, July 6 (IANS) Heavy security remained deployed outside former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kolkata’s Kalighat area on Monday, triggering a political confrontation between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP over the reason behind the heightened police presence. While the Trinamool Congress alleged that the security deployment was aimed at preventing Banerjee from visiting the family of the 11-year-old rape-murder victim in Baruipur, the BJP maintained that the arrangements had been made solely to ensure her safety.

Police personnel, central security forces and several official vehicles continued to remain stationed outside the lane leading to Banerjee’s residence after the deployment began on Sunday night.

The unusually large security presence prompted Trinamool leaders to question the necessity and scale of the arrangements.

The Trinamool Congress claimed that the deployment was intended to stop Banerjee from travelling to Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district, where tensions have escalated following the recovery of the body of a minor girl and the violence that followed.

Speaking to reporters, Minister Dilip Ghosh said, “She (Mamata Banerjee) keeps moving around on the roads. The police deployment has been made to ensure her security so that no one throws eggs on her.”

Trinamool leader Baiswanor Chatterjee, speaking to IANS, claimed, “Mamata Banerjee was ready to leave, but they deployed police and put up barricades to stop her from going.”

The political controversy unfolded amid widespread public outrage over the death of the 11-year-old girl, whose body was recovered from inside a sack in Baruipur’s Surjyapur Haat area on Sunday, a day after she was reported missing.

The gruesome discovery sparked protests in the area, with angry residents blocking roads, setting tyres on fire and vandalising police vehicles while demanding immediate action against those responsible.

The situation later turned violent when a mob allegedly lynched a man accused of involvement in the crime.

Police have so far arrested four people in connection with the girl’s death and said the investigation into the case is continuing.

–IANS

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