4 hrs ago
Derek O’Brien Appears Before Kolkata Police Over Billboard Clash
Police in Kolkata are investigating a fight that happened while a billboard was being removed from a Trinamool Congress office.
The billboard was on the top floor of Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street.
Police and municipal workers went there on August 27 to remove it.
Party workers and police then had a scuffle.
Derek O’Brien went to the Shakespeare Sarani police station on Wednesday to answer questions.
Abhishek Banerjee had answered questions there the day before.
Police are studying CCTV footage and recording statements from people named in the cases.
The police say 14 people have been arrested, while O’Brien has disputed some accounts of what happened.
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien appeared at Shakespeare Sarani police station on Wednesday for questioning.
The questioning concerns a scuffle during the removal of an alleged illegal or unauthorised billboard at Abhishek Banerjee’s Camac Street office.
Police are examining CCTV footage and questioning people named in three FIRs over the August 27 incident.
Abhishek Banerjee appeared for questioning on Tuesday, while his personal assistant Sumit Roy also appeared on Wednesday.
Police said 14 people had been arrested and that the cases include allegations of obstructing officials, unlawful assembly, assault and harassment of women personnel.
- Who
- Derek O’Brien, Abhishek Banerjee, Sumit Roy and other Trinamool Congress leaders and activists; Kolkata Police and Kolkata Municipal Corporation personnel were also involved.
- What
- Police questioned O’Brien and Roy in connection with FIRs concerning a scuffle during the removal of a Trinamool Congress billboard.
- Where
- The incident took place at Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street in Kolkata; questioning occurred at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station.
- When
- O’Brien and Roy appeared on Wednesday; Banerjee appeared on Tuesday. The underlying incident occurred on August 27.
- Why
- Police are investigating allegations including obstruction of government officials, unlawful assembly, assault and harassment of women personnel.
Police allegations
Trinamool Congress account
Events during billboard removal
Police allegations
Police allege that party activists resisted the removal operation, assaulted on-duty personnel and obstructed government officials, with one FIR also alleging harassment of a woman police officer.
Trinamool Congress account
O’Brien alleged that police entered the office with an “illegal” notice, assaulted senior leaders and heckled party supporters and staff.
Resistance claims
Police allegations
Police are examining CCTV footage of individuals allegedly manhandling police personnel and investigating reports of resistance during the operation.
Trinamool Congress account
O’Brien described reports that private guards resisted the police as “fake news.”
Key facts
- Police station
- Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, Kolkata
- Incident location
- Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street
- Incident date
- August 27
- FIRs
- Three FIRs were filed in connection with the incident; Banerjee and O’Brien were named in two of them.
- Arrests
- Police said 14 people had been arrested.
- Questioning
- Police said they were examining evidence, including CCTV footage, and recording statements.
Quotes
Kolkata Police officer
Police officer describing the questioning of Derek O’Brien
“We are questioning all the persons named in the cases and examining the available evidence. The statements of the individuals concerned are being recorded as part of the investigation.”
telegraphindia.com
“The TMC MP was questioned on various aspects of the incident.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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