Trinamool worker tortured in custody over billboard dispute, says Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress MP and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee leaves the Shakespeare Sarani police station after appearing in connection with a brawl case in Kolkata, September 1, 2026. The incident reportedly took place at his office on Camac Street over the removal of a party signboard. | Photo credit: PTI

Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee said on Tuesday (1 September 2026) that a party worker arrested in connection with the hoarding dispute was allegedly tortured in police custody, causing severe head injuries.

“They (BJP government) believe that threats and intimidation can decide the future of democracy. I want to remind them that in a democracy the ruler never has the last word. The people do,” he said. “If they think they can silence us with fake cases and arrests, they are wrong,” he added.

Mr Banerjee said party worker Tarik was arrested and “subjected to custodial torture”. “Another 12 or 13 others remain in judicial custody. Many were arrested without prior notice and there were many procedural errors,” he said.

The Trinamool leader, who appeared before the police on Tuesday in connection with the hoarding brawl, was questioned for nearly six hours.

The Kolkata Police on Friday (August 28) registered an FIR against Mr Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien for allegedly assaulting the police and preventing them from discharging their duties when they went to remove the hoarding.

In a standoff lasting nearly 90 minutes, Trinamool workers engaged in a heated exchange with police and civic body officials. Mr O’Brien fell on the stairs as police pushed aside party workers to get to the roof of a building on Calcutta’s Camac Street to remove the signboard.

Mr Banerjee said the government was living in a “pool paradise” by trying to “crush” the Trinamool and asked Mr Banerjee: “If people actually elected someone, why is there so much fear? Why the rush to target Trinamool leaders, MPs, municipalities, gram sabhas, party offices and bank accounts?”

Published – 01 Sep 2026 23:11 IST