Tensions flared at the Shyambazar five-point crossing in North Kolkata on Friday following a confrontation between Kolkata Police and BJP supporters.
The clash erupted as the BJP organized a protest against the recent rape and murder of a junior doctor at R G Kar Medical College & Hospital.
The protest was likely to take place at the Shyambazar crossing, strategically located near R G Kar.
The BJP had prepared a temporary platform for the demonstration.
However, BJP leaders claimed that the police had dismantled their previous setup on Thursday night.
In response, BJP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya, and party legislators Agnimitra Paul and Ashoke Kirtaniya, began erecting a new platform.
As they did so, city police intervened, leading to a scuffle between the protesters and law enforcement officers.
The altercation caused severe traffic disruptions at the busy intersection during peak afternoon hours.
Police acted to clear the road, forcibly removing BJP supporters and detaining them in police vans.
The BJP condemned the police response, alleging that the force used was unwarranted.
“While the police were passive during the vandalism at RG Kar, they have aggressively targeted our peaceful protest,” said BJP leader Agnimitra Paul.
She further claimed that the police were concealing involvement in the case due to the alleged connections of a politically influential individual.
In response to the situation, the BJP’s Mahila Morcha planned a silent candle march later in the evening to honor the victim and condemn the crime at R G Kar Medical College & Hospital.
Also Read: Calcutta High Court Questions Police Handling Of R G Kar Hospital Vandalism
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