Former West Bengal Forest Minister Jyotipriya Mallick was attacked outside his Salt Lake home in Kolkata on Sunday. The incident came just weeks after he was released on bail from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case over alleged ration‑distribution fraud.
According to Kolkata Police, an unidentified young man came to Mallick’s house—where he also runs a small office—punching him in the face and sending him to the road. Mallick fell, shouted for help, and a handful of Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers rushed in to stop the attacker. While the first few volunteers tried to restrain the youth, the boy appeared so determined that it took several more TMC members to pull him away.
Police were alerted quickly. They arrived on the scene, apprehended the youth and secured the area. The attacker was taken to the police station for questioning, and Mallick was examined at the spot. He suffered only minor facial injuries and was not taken to a hospital. After the arrest of the boy, Mallick reviewed CCTV footage from his property and saw that the suspect had been standing outside the house since about 3 p.m., had briefly left, then returned to attack him when he reached the door.
No motive for the attack has emerged, and Mallick said he did not know the young man. The TMC has made no statement about the incident, and authorities have not yet released further details.
The attack adds to the controversy surrounding Mallick, who was detained by the ED in 2023 over the state’s ration distribution scam. He spent 14 months in jail before being granted bail on January 15. Though he was formally removed from the West Bengal cabinet shortly after his release, he had remained a prominent figure in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s circle.
This incident raises questions about safety and political tensions in Kolkata, especially as the state prepares for upcoming local elections. Police investigations will likely focus on whether the attack was a random act or linked to the broader political turmoil surrounding Mallick’s legal troubles.
Source: ianslive
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