West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she "could have died" after her car was attacked with stones in Halisahar, near Kolkata. She was traveling to the house of a party worker who allegedly died in police custody when she faced protests along the way.
Suspended Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee alleged that stones were repeatedly hurled at the chief minister's vehicle during the incident. The attack prompted a sharp reaction from the ruling party.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, however, distanced itself from the episode. BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya denied any party role in the alleged attack and condemned the incident, saying such actions should not be condoned.
The alleged attack comes amid heightened political tensions in the state, with the opposition accusing the government of heavy-handedness in the treatment of political workers. The party worker's death in police custody is expected to be investigated separately.
No injuries have been reported so far, and authorities have not yet confirmed the circumstances surrounding the stone-pelting. The incident has added to the charged political atmosphere ahead of upcoming elections.