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A rise in egg-throwing incidents has transformed what began as isolated acts of protest into a recurring political flashpoint
Trinamool Congress youth leader Soumitra Banerjee attacked with eggs while being taken to court by police. File image/ANI
What was once a battle over fish during the West Bengal assembly election has now turned into the politics of eggs.
Throughout the election campaign, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) projected the narrative that a BJP government would interfere with Bengalis’ food choices, particularly fish consumption. In response, BJP leaders organised fish festivals and campaigned while publicly consuming fish to counter the allegation. Fish became one of the defining political symbols of the election.
Months after the change in government, the political symbolism has shifted dramatically.
Eggs have emerged as a recurring form of public protest against opposition leaders. Several TMC leaders—including Abhishek Banerjee, Arup Biswas and local councillors—have faced egg-throwing incidents during public appearances. Similar attacks have also been reported during the production of arrested persons.
In the high-profile Baruipur lynching case, CPI(M) leader Lahek Ali was escorted wearing a protective helmet while being taken into custody after concerns over possible attacks from crowds.
The growing number of such incidents has now prompted the West Bengal Police to issue a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at preventing assaults on persons under police protection.
West Bengal Police Issue SOP Against Egg Attacks and Mob Violence
The statewide circular follows the Calcutta High Court’s order dated June 30, 2026, in Md Danish Farooqui vs State of West Bengal & Others.
The police acknowledged that, in several recent cases, individuals under police protection were targeted with eggs, ink, footwear, stones and other objects while being escorted, produced before courts or moved through public places.
Under the SOP, all district police units have been directed to conduct threat assessments before escorting vulnerable persons and to identify sensitive routes, locations and events through intelligence gathering, cyber monitoring and social media surveillance.
The guidelines mandate preventive measures including route sanitisation, barricading, crowd regulation, access control, CCTV coverage, videography, drone deployment wherever feasible, and adequate escort strength.
The SOP also directs officers to intervene immediately in cases of egg throwing, assault or mob violence, rescue the protected individual, disperse unlawful assemblies, detain offenders where necessary, register FIRs in cognisable offences and preserve electronic evidence.
Police Commissioners and Superintendents have been asked to personally supervise implementation of the SOP, with disciplinary action warned against officers found negligent.
The circular reiterates that no individual, irrespective of the allegations against them, should be subjected to assault, humiliation or mob justice while under police protection.
Political Reactions
Speaking with News18, senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha said, “We are against such attacks and strongly condemn egg-throwing. But the larger issue is that it has become an expression of public anger, and that is a matter of concern.”
West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya has also repeatedly stated that such incidents should not be allowed in a democratic society.
Reacting to the SOP, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh dismissed the move, saying, “This is merely for show. It is being done deliberately. Nothing will change.”
The rise in egg-throwing incidents has transformed what began as isolated acts of protest into a recurring political flashpoint, prompting the state police to formalise security protocols for those under their protection.
The increasing incidents of egg attacks on Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in West Bengal, particularly after the party’s defeat in the Assembly polls, are seen as a symbol of public anger over alleged corruption.
About the Author
Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting…Read More
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