Archive · 27 Aug 2026
TMC Alleges Bengal Attacks, Questions President’s Rule
The Trinamool Congress says some of its workers in Bengal are being attacked.
Its spokesperson, Derek O’Brien, talked about an alleged assault on party official Gyananand Samanta.
A video posted online appears to show an injured person being attacked while police are nearby.
The video has not been independently confirmed.
Bengal Police had not publicly commented on the incident.
O’Brien said these events show that the state’s law and order has broken down.
He asked whether President’s Rule should be imposed.
The allegations come during a strong political fight between the TMC and the BJP in Bengal.
The Trinamool Congress alleged that its grassroots workers are being attacked in several parts of Bengal.
TMC spokesperson Derek O’Brien cited an alleged assault on Bishnupur block president Gyananand Samanta.
A social-media video showed an injured person being assaulted before police personnel dragged him away.
The video’s authenticity could not be independently verified, and Bengal Police had not issued a statement.
O’Brien said the alleged violence showed a collapse of law and order and questioned why President’s Rule should not be imposed.
- Who
- The Trinamool Congress, including spokesperson Derek O’Brien, made the allegations; Gyananand Samanta was identified as the alleged assault victim.
- What
- The TMC alleged attacks on its workers and claimed that Bengal’s law and order situation had collapsed.
- When
- The allegations were made on Thursday; the reported assault on Samanta allegedly occurred earlier in the week.
- Where
- Several parts of Bengal, including the Bishnupur block.
- Why
- The TMC cited the alleged attacks and police conduct while questioning whether President’s Rule should be imposed.
TMC’s Allegations
Unanswered Official Position
Law and order
TMC’s Allegations
The TMC says attacks on its workers and alleged police atrocities show that law and order has collapsed in Bengal.
Unanswered Official Position
No response from Bengal Police was reported, so authorities’ position on the allegations was not available.
President’s Rule
TMC’s Allegations
Derek O’Brien questioned why President’s Rule should not be imposed, arguing that similar circumstances would have prompted it in a non-BJP state.
Unanswered Official Position
The article did not report a response from the BJP or any official position supporting or rejecting the demand.
Assault video
TMC’s Allegations
The TMC cited a video that appears to show Gyananand Samanta being assaulted in the presence of police personnel.
Unanswered Official Position
The video’s authenticity could not be independently verified.
- Alleged victim
- Gyananand Samanta, identified as the TMC’s Bishnupur block president
- TMC spokesperson
- Derek O’Brien, a Rajya Sabha MP
- Video source
- A video posted on social media by Abhishek Banerjee
- Verification status
- PTI could not independently verify the video’s authenticity
- Police response
- Bengal Police had not issued a statement on the alleged incident
- Political context
- The allegations came amid a sharp confrontation between the TMC and the BJP in Bengal
- Assembly result cited
- The article said the BJP won 207 of Bengal’s 294 Assembly seats, with results declared on May 4 of that year