Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee faced protests in Halisahar on Saturday while visiting the family of a deceased TMC worker, with demonstrators allegedly blocking her vehicle and hurling stones, slippers and shoes at her car.

Protesters also smeared mud on Banerjee's vehicle and raised slogans including 'thief' and 'robber queen' as her convoy was stopped on the road.

Banerjee alleged that the protesters were not locals but 'lumpen' elements brought from outside by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

'The BJP has brought in lumpen elements from outside. They used abusive language. They threw big bricks. Look at the car. Bricks were thrown all along the road,' Banerjee said, condemning the incident.

The TMC supremo had travelled to Halisahar to meet the family of a deceased party worker. His family and the TMC have alleged that he was beaten to death while in police custody.

Residents, however, claimed that Banerjee's visit had disturbed what had been a peaceful situation.

Banerjee also alleged that the deceased worker's family was being threatened and claimed that stones were thrown at her vehicle in the presence of police personnel.

'Even after beating him to death in the lock-up, they are going to the house and threatening the family. We had said we would come, and we have come,' she said.

Banerjee alleged that outsiders had been brought in to create unrest and accused the police of failing to prevent the attack.

'Stones were thrown at the car in front of the police. Outsiders have come here,' she said, adding that her party would pursue legal action over the alleged intimidation of the family.

The former chief minister also launched a political attack on the BJP and accused the police of becoming politically aligned with the party.

She alleged that there was 'barbarity' in Bengal and claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was himself involved in creating disturbances.

TMC MPs Dola Sen and Kalyan Banerjee accompanied Mamata during the Halisahar visit.

Sen alleged that the local MLA had visited the deceased worker's family and threatened them, while Kalyan demanded action against senior police officials and sought the resignation of the state DGP and police commissioner.

Kalyan alleged that the TMC worker had been picked up around 2 am and beaten to death at a ladies' hostel.

He claimed that the deceased's name was not mentioned in the FIR and described the incident as a custodial death.

He also alleged that the Halisahar incident was part of a pre-planned conspiracy to target Mamata Banerjee and accused West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of being behind it.

'If Mamata Banerjee is physically attacked, the entire West Bengal will rise up,' Kalyan said.

The allegations made by Mamata Banerjee and the TMC leaders could not be independently verified.