Kolkata: Police used tear gas and water cannons to dispel thousands of protesters marching towards state secretariat Nabanna in Howrah Tuesday to demand justice for the junior doctor raped and murdered in state-run RG Kar hospital on 9 August.
Police personnel and protesters clashed at several places, including the Kolkata end of the iconic Howrah Bridge, which left several officers injured.
Police vans were also seen carting off multiple protesters as they attempted to break through barricades en route Nabanna, which is Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s office.
The call for Tuesday’s ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ was given by student body Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, and the Sangrami Joutha Mancha, which advocates for state dearness allowance (DA) to be brought at par with that of central government employees.
RG Kar’s junior doctors, who have held their own protest in the hospital, were not a part of Tuesday’s march.
Political blame game
A political slugfest broke out between the Trinamool Congress and opposition BJP just hours before the march, which fuelled tension in the city and its adjoining areas.
The Trinamool claimed that BJP workers would infiltrate the students’ rally dressed as police and create trouble.
Meanwhile, the police had denied permission to the march Monday, citing specific intel about a serious “breach of peace”. Hours before the march, it arrested four students in order to “maintain law and order”. The BJP, which supported the rally from outside, immediately approached the Calcutta High Court Tuesday morning to free them. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari wrote on X Tuesday that the families have approached the HC.
A certain political leader has been trying to create a false narrative about four students who have apparently been missing since last night. The truth is, nobody is missing..(1/2)
— West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) August 27, 2024
The families have approached Hon'ble Calcutta High Court.
See you in Court Mamata Police… https://t.co/fGDNYobY9P
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) August 27, 2024
The Supreme Court last week directed the Mamata Banerjee government to allow peaceful protests and not use force to stop rallies. But schools, and offices remained closed in the city as citizens anticipated large-scale violence.
Mamata was at the state secretariat the whole day monitoring the situation as additional forces were deployed later in the day to push back protesters in Howrah.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: Dada leaves Didi’s side on RG Kar. Mamata Banerjee left high & dry as allied voices turn critical
BJP trying hard to bring down Mamta like Hasina.
People wonder what about the rapes in Maharashtra, Uttrakhand etc reported in last few days. Who decides which rape is more important? Anyone trying to bring down the government there?
If women safety is the critical issue no state or central govt is eligible to continue in power for a day.