West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged that her car was attacked during a visit near Kolkata, stating that she could have died in the incident, according to NDTV.
The incident occurred on Sunday, August 9, 2026, while Banerjee was traveling to the home of a deceased Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker. NDTV reports that Banerjee described the attack as life-threatening, though she did not provide further details about the nature of the assault in the initial report.
The visit was part of a response to the death of a party worker, but it was met with hostility from local residents. According to The Telegraph India, protesters smeared mud on Banerjee's vehicle during the same visit. The Times of India reported that the crowd also shouted "chor" (thief) at the Chief Minister, with opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari describing the protests as a "reflection of public anger."
ThePrint also confirmed the allegation that Banerjee's car was attacked during her visit to the deceased TMC worker's house. Deccan Chronicle characterized the episode as a first for Banerjee, noting that she faced mob fury in West Bengal in an unprecedented manner.
The incident highlights rising tensions in the state, with the Chief Minister's visit to mourn a party worker turning into a flashpoint for public dissent. The exact circumstances surrounding the death of the TMC worker and the reasons for the protesters' anger have not been detailed in the reports.
What remains unclear is whether the state government will launch an official investigation into the attack on Banerjee's vehicle, and how the opposition will respond to her allegations in the coming days.
