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Kolkata, Nov 3 (IANS) Police on Monday released the youth who allegedly attacked former West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick, citing his mental instability. The youth is now undergoing treatment at a city hospital, officials confirmed.
The attack on the Trinamool Congress MLA from Habra constituency took place outside his Salt Lake residence in Kolkata late on Sunday evening.
Police sources confirmed that the attacker, identified as Abhishek Das, is mentally unstable and is currently undergoing treatment at the NRS Medical College and Hospital.
His family living in Habra area of North 24 Parganas district has been informed about the matter.
Das allegedly attacked the former state food minister around 8 pm on Sunday night, punched Mallick in the face and threw him on the road for some time. Immediately after the incident, the police took the accused youth into custody.
Mallik suffered minor facial injuries but did not require hospitalisation.
The incident also raised concerns over the security protocols deployed outside the residence of a sitting MLA.
Addressing the media on Monday, the former minister said, “It seems that the person was drunk. He was doing recce of my house since afternoon. When I returned here at 8 pm, he also followed me and attacked me.”
Mallik expressed confusion over the motive, saying, “I can’t imagine that a boy from Habra could attack me.”
Police released Das on Monday morning after confirming his medical condition, and because the former state minister had not filed any charges against him.
Mallik was recently involved in the ration corruption case and was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2023.
After spending nearly 14 months in custody, he was granted bail on 15 January. Despite the arrest, he continued to serve in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet for some time before being dropped from the post of minister of state.
–IANS
SH/SNJ/SKP