kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, August 28, 2026: Tension erupted on Kolkata’s Camac Street after a civic operation to remove a large Trinamool Congress billboard from the office of party’s national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee turned into a major confrontation involving civic officials, police personnel and senior Trinamool leaders. The incident has now escalated into a legal and political controversy, with three FIRs registered and 13 people arrested in connection with the violence.

The confrontation took place on Thursday afternoon when officials from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, accompanied by police personnel, arrived at Banerjee’s Camac Street office to remove a large billboard and banner installed on the rooftop of the building. What began as a civic enforcement operation soon turned into a heated confrontation as municipal workers allegedly faced resistance while attempting to begin the removal process.

According to the allegations, a heated argument broke out between civic employees and police officials on one side and Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, senior party leader Biswanar Chatterjee and others who were present at the location on the other. The verbal confrontation reportedly escalated rapidly, eventually leading to pushing, scuffling and physical clashes at the spot.

The incident has triggered serious allegations concerning obstruction of government work and alleged misbehaviour with women police personnel. Three separate FIRs have reportedly been registered in connection with the incident, naming Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Biswanar Chatterjee and several others. Police have already arrested 13 people as part of the investigation.

The civic team eventually managed to reach the rooftop after the tense confrontation. Workers used gas cutters and hammers to dismantle the metal framework supporting the billboard. The Trinamool banner was subsequently removed as police and civic officials attempted to bring the situation under control.

One of the most serious allegations emerging from the incident concerns the treatment of women police personnel who were deployed during the operation. Complaints have alleged that some women officers were subjected to harassment and that attempts were made to prevent them from carrying out their duties. The allegations are now part of the police investigation, with officials examining video footage of the entire incident to establish what happened at the location.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda has said that the incident involved direct obstruction of official work. According to the police version, civic officials went to the premises to carry out their assigned duties but did not receive the necessary cooperation. Investigators are examining video recordings and other available evidence before taking further legal action against those found responsible.

The police action and the registration of FIRs have intensified the political controversy surrounding the incident. Abhishek Banerjee has rejected the allegations and described the civic operation as politically motivated. He has questioned the manner in which the municipal authorities conducted the operation and alleged that the document shown by the civic officials was incomplete.

Banerjee has also alleged that the operation was carried out without providing adequate prior notice. According to his version, the sudden arrival of civic officials and police personnel at the office raised questions about the procedure followed by the authorities. His allegations have added a political dimension to what began as a dispute over the removal of an unauthorised or disputed billboard.

The matter has also reached the attention of the Calcutta High Court, with Banerjee’s legal team raising objections to the conduct of the police and administrative authorities. The legal challenge is expected to add another layer to the dispute as the police investigation continues.

The controversy has generated considerable political discussion across Kolkata, particularly because of the involvement of senior Trinamool Congress leaders and the allegations of obstruction of official duty. The incident has also raised questions about the enforcement of civic regulations relating to large advertisements and political banners installed on buildings in the city.

For the police, the immediate priority is to determine the exact sequence of events and identify the individuals responsible for any alleged assault, obstruction or harassment. Officials are examining available video footage and the complaints submitted by municipal personnel and police officers. The arrests made so far indicate that the authorities are treating the incident as a serious law-and-order matter.

For the Trinamool Congress, however, the episode has become a broader political confrontation with the civic administration and police. The party leadership is expected to challenge the allegations and question the legality and procedure of the billboard-removal operation.

The Camac Street incident has therefore moved beyond a dispute over a billboard. With FIRs against prominent political figures, 13 arrests, allegations involving police personnel and an impending legal battle, the confrontation is likely to remain a major political and administrative flashpoint in Kolkata in the days ahead.