Trinamool Congress MLA and former Minister Jyotipriya Mallick was allegedly assaulted at his Salt Lake residence in Kolkata on Sunday night.
Police said the suspect, Abhishek Das (30), a resident of Habra, had allegedly entered Mallick’s residence along with the MLA and followed him into his office. Once inside, Das “suddenly punched” Mallick in the abdomen.
Taken by surprise, Mallick raised an alarm. Party workers and security guards stationed outside rushed in to “rescue” the MLA, and handed Das over to the Bidhannagar North Police, officials said.
Speaking to mediapersons, Mallick said, “I had gone out in the afternoon for a doctor’s appointment, then I went for a meeting for the upcoming SIR. Since I am a patient, I have to have my dinner by 8 pm, so I rushed back home. When I got down from the car, I did not see who was behind me. I just went inside my office room, turned around and saw a boy standing in front of me. Suddenly, he punched me in my stomach. I started screaming for help. My boys came in and restrained him, but the boy was so strong that he could not be held down.”
According to Mallick, Das had allegedly been roaming around his residence since morning and had enquired about the MLA’s whereabouts from one of his house staff. He allegedly told the staff that he wanted to meet Mallick regarding job opportunities.
Mallick said he was completely shocked. “This has never happened before in my life. I do not know the boy, and I do not know why he suddenly attacked me,” he said.
The Bidhannagar North Police detained and interrogated Das, and informed his family. According to a senior police officer, Das’s father and uncle allegedly told the police that they had been looking for him since morning. He had allegedly left home saying he was going out in search of a job, “later saying” he would meet Mallick for the same.
Das’s family members also informed the police that he had been a psychiatric patient and had recently been released from a government hospital after treatment.
After interrogation and verification of medical documents provided by his family, the police handed over Das to his relatives.
Mallick, who is currently the MLA from the Habra constituency, had been arrested in 2023 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged ration corruption case.