Former West Bengal Minister Jyotipriya Mallick Assaulted at Home by Man with Psychiatric History

The perpetrator was subsequently apprehended by police authorities and is currently under interrogation.

Kolkata:

Trinamool Congress MLA and former West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick was physically assaulted when a young man infiltrated his Salt Lake residence on Sunday evening, according to a senior police official.

The attacker, identified as Abhishek Das, was promptly arrested and is now being questioned by police.

According to authorities, the approximately 30-year-old suspect had followed Mallick as he entered his home around 9 pm. The young man suddenly attacked the former minister, delivering a punch to his lower abdomen, which left Mallick shocked and disoriented.

When Mallick called for help, his security personnel and nearby individuals rushed to the scene and subdued the attacker. The suspect was subsequently transferred to the custody of Bidhannagar police.

During questioning, the young man revealed he resided in the Habra area of North 24 Parganas district and claimed he wanted to speak with Mallick regarding employment opportunities. Notably, Mallick represents the Habra constituency in the West Bengal assembly.

Investigators later discovered that the attacker had previously undergone psychiatric treatment at a state hospital in the city and had conducted several reconnaissance visits to Mallick's Salt Lake residence earlier that day, the police official reported.

In his statement to reporters, Mallick explained he initially assumed the young man was a typical visitor seeking a meeting and was completely stunned when the individual suddenly lunged forward and struck him.

"I cannot confirm if he was intoxicated. I had never encountered him before. It's inconceivable that someone from Habra would assault me," the ruling party's MLA stated.

Nevertheless, he characterized the incident as an isolated occurrence.

It should be noted that Mallick was previously arrested by central agencies in connection with corruption allegations approximately two years ago while serving as forest minister. These corruption charges related to his earlier tenure as food and civil supplies minister.

Following his arrest, Mallick was removed from his position, with Birbaha Hansda subsequently appointed as the new forest minister.