TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee claims that nearly 10 shops were allegedly set on fire by BJP miscreants in Khejuri. File | Photo credit: ANI
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday (May 11, 2026) said that “BJP-backed opponents” set fire to nearly 10 shops in Khejuri in Purba Medinipur in front of police personnel and accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of promoting “targeted violence” in West Bengal.
A BJP leader in Purba Medinipur dismissed the allegations and said the party always supports peace.
This came a day after the national general secretary of the TMC made a similar allegation when he claimed that 60 shops were torched at the same location.
Earlier on Monday (May 11, 2026), Mr Banerjee shared a clip of the raging fire on X to claim that “nearly 10 shops were allegedly torched last night by BJP miscreants” in Jonka gram panchyayat area of Khejuri, “right in front of the police”.
Bengal is already witnessing a DOUBLE ENGINE DISASTER.
At Jonka GP in Khejuri in West Bhangan Mari area, nearly 10 shops were allegedly torched by BJP thugs in front of the police last night. All livelihoods were reduced to ashes because hatred and… pic.twitter.com/qa1ioEl700
— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) May 11, 2026
A senior police official said that five shops were set on fire by unknown people in Khejuri late on Sunday night (May 10, 2026).
Citing eyewitnesses, the official said unidentified bike-borne miscreants set fire to shops in Khejuri’s Bhanganmari Kolmor area and two fire tenders rushed to the spot. He said Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Central Force personnel have been deployed in the area.
Mr. Banerjee continued his tirade against the BJP, calling the incident a “twin engine disaster”. He claimed that “people’s livelihoods have been reduced to ashes because hatred and intimidation are now used as political tools”.
“This was the true face of the politics preached by (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah and the BJP,” the TMC leader said, claiming that “targeted violence was carried out with complete impunity”.
Questioning the role of the central forces, he asked, “Where are the central forces now? Or are they deployed only when it suits the BJP’s political agenda?”
However, a BJP leader in Purba Medinipur alleged that some people, “instigated by the TMC”, were trying to create unrest in the area using the BJP’s name.
“The police are investigating the matter and we are also keeping a watch. Strict action should be taken against those involved,” he said.
Published – 11 May 2026 17:29 IST
