New Delhi: A man was arrested for allegedly sneaking into West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat area in south Kolkata in the early hours on Sunday, police said. According to a report by news agency PTI, the incident triggered a security scare and questions are being raised on how he managed to dodge the large number of personnel and Z-category security that guard the chief minister’s private residence and spend a night at the house without anyone noticing him.
According to the PTI report, the man scaled a wall of CM Banerjee’s house at 34B Harish Chatterjee Street to enter it around 1am, police said. He stayed inside the house, spent the night sitting at a corner, and was spotted the next morning by security personnel, a senior police officer said.
“They informed the Kalighat Police Station who arrested the man,” PTI quoted a police official as saying.
According to the police, it is still unclear as to why he trespassed into the Chief Minister’s residence, and going by his appearance, “he seems to be somewhat mentally unstable,” police said.
One of the police officers, who did not wish to be named, however, said the man was unarmed.
“We are talking to him and trying to find out his whereabouts. We are also trying to find out whether someone instructed him to enter the CM’s residence with a motive. An investigation is underway,” the officer further added.
Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police issued a statement on Sunday saying that the man had a “mischievous intention.”
“Today an incident of security breach was reported at HCM West Bengal’s residence. One person somehow had sneaked into the HCM residence complex with mischievous intention. Later his presence was discovered by the security personnel and he was intercepted and handed over to Kalighat police station. CM Security and law enforcement agencies have taken serious cognisance of it. Further probe is underway. Immediate steps are being taken to further enhance security in and around HCM residence,” the statement read.