Security Measures Reduced Around Mamata Banerjee's Residence After Election Results
Security Adjustments Following Election Outcome
In the wake of the recent West Bengal assembly elections, which resulted in the ousting of the 15-year-old Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, security around the residences of outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee was notably relaxed on Wednesday morning. Starting at 6:30 AM, police presence was diminished at three key locations: 188A Harish Chatterjee Road, 121 Kalighat Road, and 9 Camac Street. A police official familiar with the situation indicated that on Tuesday, certain security measures resembling barricades were replaced with manual railings. The residence at 188A Harish Chatterjee belonged to Mamata Banerjee, while 121 Kalighat Road served as the party headquarters, and Abhishek Banerjee's office was located at 9 Camac Street. This development occurred just two days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a significant victory in the two-phase assembly elections held in April, securing 207 out of 294 seats, while the TMC managed to win 80 seats. The Election Commission has mandated a re-poll for one seat.
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An IPS officer informed that only Z+ security will remain in effect, with additional police personnel previously deployed being withdrawn. An internal memo directing the reduction of security measures was issued on Tuesday by the Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Headquarters). The police noted that advanced security arrangements, such as the barricades on Harish Chatterjee Road, located approximately 200 meters from Banerjee's residence in Kalighat, were removed on Tuesday. These machine-operated barricades, typically found in high-security areas, have been replaced with manual railings. Meanwhile, the state's Advocate General, Kishore Dutta, has submitted his resignation to West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi. Dutta has served as Advocate General since December 2023 and previously held the position from 2017 to 2021.