Former Rajya Sabha member and actress-turned-politician Roopa Ganguly was arrested on Thursday following a night-long sit-in demonstration in front of a police station in South Kolkata. She was protesting the detention of local BJP leader Rubi Das.
Das was among several BJP supporters arrested on Wednesday evening. They were protesting the death of a local schoolboy who was killed by a payloader used by Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) staff for road repairs.
In response to the incident, Ganguly arrived at the Bansdroni Police Station and initiated her protest, demanding Das’s release. She claimed that the BJP supporters were peacefully protesting when they were attacked by local Trinamool Congress activists. Moreover, she alleged that the police failed to act against the attackers and instead arrested the demonstrators.
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Ganguly maintained her sit-in protest throughout the night. Finally, shortly after 10 AM on Thursday, Kolkata Police announced her arrest. She was taken away from the police station in a police vehicle.
After her arrest, Ganguly stated that officers did not allow her to take her bag with her. City police officials, however, claimed she was arrested for obstructing on-duty officers from performing their lawful duties.
The protest followed growing local grievances regarding the schoolboy’s tragic death. Many residents expressed frustration over the absence of local Trinamool Congress councillor Anita Kar Majumdar hours after the incident.
Ganguly gained fame for her iconic portrayal of ‘Draupadi’ in the popular television series ‘Mahabharat.’ She later joined the BJP and served as a Rajya Sabha member.
