Mamata Banerjee has received stitches on her head. After the injury, she was promptly taken to the SSKM Hospital and admitted to the VIP Woodburn Ward. Post-treatment, she has been discharged and shifted to her residence under medical observation – following the incident, the security at the Chief Minister's residence has been beefed up.
Mamata Banerjee has suffered a head injury for the second time within three months. In January 2024, she became a victim of a road accident as she was returning from a government program when the driver had to brake suddenly due to fog, causing her injury. Prior to this latest incident, she had just returned from an event. During the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections, Mamata Banerjee also sustained a foot injury at her constituency in Nandigram – and she has been injured again prior to the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Due to a cast on her leg, Banerjee had to campaign from a wheelchair throughout the elections.
Upon receiving news of the Chief Minister's injury, the state's Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, several West Bengal ministers, MLAs, and a large number of supporters rushed to the hospital. The Governor of West Bengal, CV Anand Bose, also visited the hospital to inquire about her condition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar have wished for Mamata Banerjee's speedy recovery. Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed surprise at the news of her injury and wished for her swift healing.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal has ordered an investigation to ascertain the lapse in the Chief Minister's security, as per reports, Mamata Banerjee informed the Police Commissioner that someone had pushed her from behind.
Under what circumstances did Mamata Banerjee get injured?
Initial reports suggested that Mamata Banerjee was injured while working out on a treadmill, but this has not been confirmed. According to some information, the Chief Minister was in her bedroom when someone pushed her from behind, causing her to fall. A Trinamool Congress leader has reported that the incident occurred while Mamata Banerjee was walking at her home, and family members were also with her.
The Director of SSKM Hospital, in a press conference, reported that on the evening of 14th March around 7:30 pm, they were informed that the Chief Minister had been injured due to a fall. It was also disclosed that someone had pushed Mamata Banerjee from behind.
The hospital director conveyed that Mamata Banerjee sustained injuries to her forehead and nose, which caused significant bleeding. This information was also shared on social site X along with three photos of the injured Chief Minister by the Trinamool Congress.
Following all necessary medical examinations, dressings were also performed at the hospital. Mamata Banerjee received three stitches on her head and one on her nose.
In conversation with Indian Express, a TMC leader indicated, 'At the time of the incident, Mamata Banerjee was not alone; her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, Kajari Banerjee, and other family members were also present. She was walking in the drawing-room, slipped suddenly, fell down, and collided with a glass showcase in front of her, leading to her forehead injury and profuse bleeding.'
How could such a significant security lapse occur?
Following the mysterious circumstances of Mamata Banerjee's injury, a police investigation has begun. The police are compiling a list of people entering and leaving the Chief Minister's home - the investigation is necessary, and only after its completion will the actual reason be clear, but the incident raises several questions.
1.
As it is understood, Mamata Banerjee was not alone during the incident. Family members were also accompanying her. It's evident that they too would have been walking with the Chief Minister. The claim that she fell after being pushed from behind – was it an accident or an assault?
2.
Could a person walking with her have stumbled and fallen onto Mamata Banerjee, causing her to fall too - or was it an attacker who managed to breach the security and enter the home?
3.
As the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee is entitled to Z+ category security. The fact that she herself informed the Police Commissioner about being pushed from behind raises serious questions.
4.
Information about Mamata Banerjee's injury came from the hospital as well as from the Trinamool Congress. The TMC's official X handle released a photograph of the injured Chief Minister, appealing for prayers, but no status update has followed since.
5.
The biggest question is how an attacker could enter Mamata Banerjee's home and where did he go after pushing her? It is conceivable that the family's attention was focused on Mamata Banerjee, but why did the attacker not catch the security personnel's eye?
