Bongaon TMC councillors’ houses attacked after no-confidence motion against removed chief
Times of India | 21 November 2025
Kolkata: Houses of six Trinamool Congress councillors of Bongaon Municipality have been targeted in a string of attacks since Wednesday night, with miscreants firing gunshots, hurling crude bombs, and vandalising property across multiple wards.
The attacks come close on the heels of a major reshuffle in civic bodies in North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore, initiated by the TMC leadership to counter growing anti-incumbency after the party trailed in nearly 90 assembly segments in 2024 Lok Sabha election. As part of the shake-up, new chairpersons were appointed in Barasat and Bongaon municipalities. However, Bongaon civic body chief Gopal Seth is yet to put in his papers.
On Wednesday night, the first attack took place outside the Ward 2 house of councillor Shikha Ghosh and her husband, ward president Uttam Ghosh. According to the family, a group of youths hurled bricks, smashed CCTV cameras, and abused the residents. "Nearly 100 bike-borne youths came and started hurling bricks. They broke our CCTV cameras. We informed the police, but they came late," said Uttam.
Within hours, attacks were reported from the homes of Ward 1 councillor Dipali Biswas, Ward 8 councillor Bandana Munshi, Ward 9 councillor Bandana Kirtaniya, and Ward 19 councillor Sharmila Das Bairagi. Sharmila alleged that the attackers fired six rounds outside her residence.
Ward 11 councillor Shampa Mohant's house was also targeted with bullets and bombs. "A no-confidence motion was brought against Gopal Seth, but six of us did not sign it. That is why this attack was carried out. Around 12.30am, 10 to 12 rounds of gunfire were directed at my house," Shampa said.
The residence of Raja Haldar, a close aide of Seth, was allegedly vandalised, with CCTV cameras and windowpanes broken.
The district TMC leadership has announced that Seth had been given until Nov 15 to step down. However, he did not resign. On Nov 14, he cited ill health and attempted to hand over charge to Ward 21 councillor Surajit Das, but the executive officer refused to recognise the move citing procedural issues.
On Wednesday, nine councillors formally submitted a no-confidence motion against Seth at the Bongaon municipality and SDO office.
On Thursday afternoon, the attacked councillors and their supporters staged a protest outside Bongaon police station demanding immediate arrests. Police have launched an investigation into the attacks, but the motive behind the coordinated violence remains unclear. TMC MP Mamata Bala Thakur met the agitating councillors earlier in the day.