Lawyers, office of CPI(M) supporters face attack in West Bengal; Mamata calls attacks ‘unacceptable’

“I am shocked to learn that he was even pressured to change his complaint. After the intervention of Hon’ble Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Samim returned home safely,” TMC leader Mamata Banerjee said. File | Photo credit: PTI

Several lawyers, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders and party office bearers in West Bengal have come under repeated attacks in the state in recent days. Senior lawyers and politicians have criticized the attacks on lawyers, including that of Senior Advocate Shamim Ahmed on Saturday (October 3, 2026) night.

Mr. Ahmed, a newly elected member of the West Bengal Bar Council, went to Garbeta to provide legal aid to the locals who were facing eviction. The vehicles of Mr. Ahmed and his colleagues were allegedly vandalized outside the Salboni police station in Paschim Medinipur district. Politicians condemned the inaction of the police.

“A group of advocates went there to help the people who were evicted, it is our moral duty to help them return home. The police were already there. Miscreants attacked us three times with sharp objects and vandalized four cars,” Mr Ahmed said. He also added that the police helped them in the first attack and did not take any action in the other two cases.

Mr. Ahmed also said three defense lawyers were physically injured during the attack.

“I am shocked to find that he was even pressured to change his complaint. After the intervention of Hon’ble Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Shamim returned home safely. The recent attacks on lawyers at Bankshall Court and Baruipur Court are equally unacceptable,” Trinamool Congress President Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday (2026).

“Any attempt to intimidate advocates to stand by citizens or provide legal aid goes against the rule of law itself,” said senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Legal associations such as the Indian Justice Forum and the West Bengal State Committee of the All India Lawyers Association for Justice also condemned the attack and called for an immediate probe.

Mr. Ahmed has fought eviction cases on many occasions and championed the cause of marginalized people in court.

A few days ago, Calcutta High Court lawyer Sayan Banerjee was attacked when a mob threw eggs at him at a court in Baruipur. A similar attack was also reported from the Bankshall Court in Kolkata where outsiders assaulted a lawyer while he was on his way to represent the YouTuber in court.

On Saturday (October 3, 2026), lawyers of the Howrah District Court staged a protest against these repeated attacks on their colleagues.

Attacks from the left

The CPI(M) also claims that its leaders were attacked by Bharatiya Janata Party goons at a rally in Birati, where many suffered physical injuries and their podium was vandalized on Friday (October 2, 2026).

“Fifteen SFI leaders and workers were injured. When district committee member Comrade Shivshankar Ghosh intervened to protect the activists, he was hit on the head and required five stitches. Eight activists were taken to hospital,” the CPI(M) said in a statement.

On Sunday, the CPI(M) party office at Murshidabad Lalbagh was attacked by men wearing saffron scarves.

In the last few weeks, CPI(M) leaders have also claimed that several of their party offices have been attacked, including one in Mathabhanga, Pashchim Medinipur, Jalpaiguri, Howrah, Anandapur in Kolkata and other places. CPI(M) leaders blamed the BJP for these attacks.

Published – 5 Oct 2026 13:11 IST