Nabanna Abhijan LIVE: Protesters, cops clash for hours; BJP calls for 12hr bandh tomorrow

Kolkata's iconic Howrah bridge and later Strand Road and Fort William areas turned into a battlefield on Tuesday (August 27) as police resorted to lathi-charge, tear gas shells, and water cannons to prevent protesters from marching towards the state secretariat Nabanna to seek justice for a trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's resignation.

The BJP has called a 12-hour Bengal Bandh on Wednesday, while the state government has asserted that there will be no bandh.

Early in the day, a multi-layered security cover was imposed in the city for the Nabanna Abhijan rally called by student organisation Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj and the Sangrami Joutha Mancha. Barricades were erected at 19 points and they were smeared with grease to prevent protesters from scaling them. However, protesters removed them by force and attempted to march on by crossing Howrah bridge.

As the police chased them away by lobbing tear gas shells, lathi-charging them, and using water cannons, the crowd of protesters moved down to Hastings area near Fort William and onward to Strand Road near Prinsep Ghat and Babu Ghat. Two police bikes were set on fire while several policemen were injured as the protesters pelted them with stones and hurled bricks at them. Police cars carrying injured personnel were also attacked.

6,000 police personnel deployed, Nabanna secured

Kolkata Police had made massive security arrangements to thwart the march of protesters to Nabanna. While barricades and containers were installed in several places, more than 6,000 police personnel were deployed across the city to handle law and order. As many as 26 Deputy Commissioners of Police were present at strategic locations of the city.

The perimeter of Nabanna was transformed into a virtual fortress with police ensuring a three-layer security arrangement. Police vehicles, drones and water cannons were kept on standby at several strategic junctions of the city.

Besides Kolkata Police and Howrah City Police, additional forces arrived to help deal with the law-and-order situation. Heavy Radio Flying Squads (HRFS), Rapid Action Force (RAF), Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) were placed at key junctions for the purpose.

Security personnel were deployed at Hastings, Furlong Gate, Strand Road, and Howrah.

Four arrested

Despite the administration's declaration of the event as “illegal”, thousands of protesters gathered in the city, only to be stopped near the barricades put up by police. The protesters chanted slogans, demanding security personnel to open the barricades and allow them to stage a “peaceful” agitation.

Police arrested four youths who were allegedly planning to orchestrate large-scale violence during the rally.

Announcing it on their official X handle, West Bengal Police said the four were “involved in a conspiracy for murder and attempted murder. They have been arrested in the interest of public safety and security, and their families have been informed.”

Referring to state BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s post about the youths without naming him, police also alleged that a “certain political leader” was creating a false narrative that the four students were missing.

Illegal rally: State Police

Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj is an unregistered student group, while Sangrami Joutha Mancha represents state government employees who are advocating for their Dearness Allowance (DA) to be aligned with that of Central government employees.

The state police have termed the rally "illegal" and "unauthorised", citing concerns over potential violence and public disorder.

ADG (Law and Order) Manoj Verma indicated that there was credible intelligence suggesting attempts by miscreants to incite chaos during the protest. Consequently, the government imposed prohibitory orders near Nabanna (state secretariat) under Section 163 of BNSS, restricting gatherings of five or more people.

The Trinamool Congress denounced the rally as a "conspiracy" to create public disorder, releasing videos that purportedly show BJP leaders from Ghatal, Paschim Medinipur district, planning to provoke violence. The persons shown in the videos have been detained for questioning.

Educational institutions declare holiday

In response to the anticipated disruptions, several educational institutions opted to conduct online classes or declared a holiday for Tuesday. Governor CV Ananda Bose urged the state government to refrain from using force to prevent the rally, advocating for the students' right to protest.

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