TMC stages protest over army deployment in Bengal

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs staged protest outside Raj Bhavan over army deployment in Bengal on Friday, and demanded withdrawal of the army from the toll plaza.

Mamata Banerjee has alleged that army was deployed at two toll plazas on National Highway 2 in Bengal without informing the state government.

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party came down heavily upon Mamata and condemned her way of dragging the Indian armed forces into politics.

The army, however, released a series of letters stating that it was in communication with the Kolkata Police and also clarified that it is nothing but a routine exercise which is carried out in every 3-4 years. Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), (Headquarters), Bengal Area, Major General Sunil Yadav said, "This is an exercise carried out for operational purposes, which will terminate to its logical and tonight. They are only collecting data of heavy vehicles, which is an annual exercise being carried out every year. Similar exercises are also being carried out in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar from September 26 to October 1 this year."

Mamata Banerjee not only took to Twitter to express her fury, but also stayed overnight at her office in the state secretariat to protest against the "sudden deployment" of the army at toll plazas.