The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday asked the West Bengal government to explain what steps it has taken to stop alleged egg-pelting attacks on leaders and workers of the All India Trinamool Congress.

The court directed the state to file a detailed report on the action taken to prevent such incidents.

It also told police officers to follow the rules and respond quickly if similar incidents take place. The matter will be heard again on July 20.

The direction came while the court was hearing a petition that claimed TMC MPs, MLAs and party workers had faced repeated egg-pelting and other attacks in different parts of the state.

During the hearing, senior lawyer Kalyan Bandopadhyay said these incidents were happening regularly and raised concerns over the safety of political workers.

He also questioned whether enough action had been taken against people accused of making statements that could encourage such attacks.

The court, however, said it would not issue any immediate order at this stage. It observed that arresting a few people alone would not end the problem and stressed that violence against political workers should not become normal.

The state government informed the court that several FIRs had already been registered in connection with the incidents. The judges said the government has a responsibility to protect people and maintain law and order.

While acknowledging the concerns raised in the petition, the court said the state must first be allowed to place its response on record.

It then directed the government to submit a comprehensive report on the measures taken to stop such incidents before the next hearing on July 20.