Kolkata
In Kolkata and Howrah, clashes between police and protesters occurred during the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ march on Tuesday. The protest was organized to respond to the rape and murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College. Unauthorized demonstrations faced strong police resistance, including lathi-charges, tear gas, and water cannons.
The march aimed to reach Nabanna in Howrah, but police halted the rally. Violence erupted when some protesters threw stones, causing injuries to police officers and damage to property. Early in the protest, tensions rose in Santragachi as demonstrators attempted to breach police barricades. The Kona Expressway was blocked, and some protesters continued despite police actions.
In Central Kolkata, the main rally at College Square remained relatively calm. Protesters called for the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and demanded justice for the victim. Around 6,000 police officers were deployed, including 2,000 near Nabanna.
Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition, warned of further disruption if the police crackdown continued. The BJP supported the protest but denied direct involvement. Student wings of the Left parties criticized the protest, claiming it was politically motivated and linked to the BJP and RSS.
As the day progressed, tensions increased in Kolkata. Protesters breached barricades near the Police Training School, prompting more use of tear gas and water cannons. Some female protesters and several police officers were injured in the ongoing unrest.
