The Kolkata doctor rape and murder case has triggered such anger that the West Bengal government is finding it difficult to quell it. The protesters are not willing to back down from the government’s tough stand. A group of students marched towards the Chief Minister’s office, Nabanna, today, demanding Mamata Banerjee’s resignation. However, the police stopped them midway using batons and tear gas to disperse the protesters. Several students were also detained. Later, BJP leaders marched towards Kolkata police headquarters, Lalbazar, demanding the release of the students.
Following this, Kolakata police resorted to batons and fired tear gas to disperse the BJP leaders and supporters. The protesters were demanding the release of the students arrested during the Nabanna Abhijan protest and calling for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to resign following the recent rape and murder of a post-graduate doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College.
The situation escalated when BJP supporters tried to break through police barricades at Lalbazar. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, who was leading the march, fell ill after being exposed to tear gas and was forced to leave the venue.
Earlier in the day, police stopped Majumdar’s procession attempting to proceed towards Lalbazar. In response, Majumdar and other local BJP leaders staged a sit-in protest at the barricades around 4.30 pm, demanding an explanation from the police over the arrests and calling for the unconditional release of the students detained during the Nabanna Abhijan.
When their protest did not elicit any response from the police commissioner and other senior officials, BJP leaders and supporters again attempted to break through the barricades. The police then used force to control the situation and arrested 94 protesters.
“The state president has warned the Commissioner of Police to explain his stand on the arrests and ensure unconditional release of Bengali students who were detained at various places during the march to Nabanna,” a state BJP leader said.
The Nabanna Abhijan rally, organised under the banner of ‘Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj’ and the platform of dissident state government employees ‘Sangrami Joutha Mancha’, saw participation from several places including Howrah, Santragachi, Howrah Bridge, MG Road and Princep Ghat. (With contributions from the agency)
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