Hate speech: Police refuse to file FIR against TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee

A day after Trinamool Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee sparked a controversy with his comment about "gouging eyes out" and "cutting arms", police refused to file an FIR against him. 

The top brass of Kolkata Police tried to dismiss the matter by saying that they were not the competent authority to file an FIR against Banerjee. 

"The incident took place at Basirhat. We cannot slap any case as we are not the competent authority to file an FIR," Bastab Baidya, Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Central Division) told dna. 

However, a group of locals filed two complaints against Banerjee at the Jorasanko police station. While both the general diaries have been registered against Banerjee, the police have not converted the two complaints into an FIR. The police have not slapped any charges against Banerjee stating that the Jorasanko police authorities are not the competent authority to register the case. 

The West Bengal Chief Minister's nephew had invited criticism by saying that those who dared to challenge the TMC administration will have their eyes gouged out and their arms cut off. Banerjee made the statement while addressing a party event.

"In the heart of Delhi, in Parliament and through various protests, Mamata Banerjee and the TMC have proved that if the interests of the people of Bengal are hurt, we will not leave the matter. As long as Mamata is there, if anyone dares to glare at us, we will gouge their eyes out and throw them on the road, if they raise their hands, we'll cut their arms off," he had said.