Chaos erupted on the streets of Kolkata and Howrah on Tuesday as police clashed with demonstrators during the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ (March to Bengal Secretariat). The protest was sparked by the recent horrific rape and murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. The situation intensified when the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, issued a stern warning, threatening to bring the state to a standstill unless the police halted their actions against what he described as “peaceful protesters.”
#WATCH | West Bengal: Protestors break away Police barricades, stomp on them, chant slogans and agitate over RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case. Visuals near Howrah Bridge. pic.twitter.com/HUDSbDPH8w
— ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2024
“Unprovoked police attacks on peaceful demonstrators are being reported from multiple locations. I urge the Kolkata Police and the West Bengal Police to immediately cease their crackdown. If not, we will paralyze the entire state on Wednesday,” Adhikari declared.
The BJP leadership in West Bengal has expressed moral support for the protest, which they claim is being led by the state’s student community. However, they assert that their supporters are not directly involved in the rally. In contrast, the student wings of the Left Parties have distanced themselves from the march, alleging that it is being orchestrated by BJP and RSS leaders in disguise.
Nabanna, the target of the march, is the state Secretariat located in the Mandirtala area of Howrah district, adjacent to Kolkata. It serves as the administrative hub of the West Bengal government, housing the offices of the Chief Minister and other key officials.
Sources reveal that the protest march did not have official permission. On Monday, the ruling Trinamool Congress accused the opposition of plotting to create unrest during the rally.
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The situation turned volatile in the very first hour of the march, particularly in Santragachi, Howrah, where protesters attempted to breach the police barricades set up to prevent them from advancing towards Nabanna. The riot police responded with lathi charges and teargas to disperse the crowd. Many demonstrators were seen waving the Tricolour and chanting slogans.
The chaos extended to the iconic Howrah Bridge, where protesters attempted to climb over police guardrails to continue their march. The police resorted to lathi charges, teargas, and water cannons to control the situation. Several policemen sustained injuries due to stone-pelting by some protesters, and a jawan of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) had to be hospitalized.
Meanwhile, the main rally, which began from College Square in Central Kolkata, has remained largely peaceful. Participants were heard chanting slogans such as ‘Dofa Ek, Dabi Ek, Mamata Banerjee’s Resignation’ and ‘Justice for RG Kar.’
Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh, however, questioned the apolitical nature of the protest, claiming, “Some of the organizers have already admitted their association with the RSS.”
A total of 6,000 police personnel have been deployed to manage the Nabanna Abhijan, with 2,000 stationed in and around the state Secretariat.
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