Nabanna Abhijan LIVE: Protesters, cops clash for hours; BJP calls for 12hr bandh tomorrow
Kolkata's iconic Howrah bridge, Fort William, and Strand Road turn into battlefields as police return protesters' stones and bricks with tear gas, water cannons
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.
Follow this space for more live updates
Live Updates
- 27 Aug 2024 3:14 PM IST
BJP seeks polygraph test on Mamata, Kolkata Police chief
Accusing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of shielding those involved in the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, the BJP on Tuesday called her a “dictator” and demanded her resignation to ensure a fair probe into the matter.
The BJP has also demanded that the CBI conduct a polygraph test on Mamata and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goel.
The BJP condemned the incident of lathi-charge by the West Bengal Police on the protesters.
“Whatever is happening in West Bengal is worrisome. It’s akin to tearing the Constitution to shreds,” BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia told a press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi.
He accused Mamata of shielding those involved in the rape and murder case, and demanded that she immediately resign as the chief minister so that a fair probe into the case can take place.
“Truth must come out. The CBI is investigating the case. It should conduct a polygraph test on Mamata Banerjee and the police commissioner to ascertain the truth,” he added.
- 27 Aug 2024 2:45 PM IST
Fresh clashes on GT Road
Fresh clashes broke out between police and protestors on GT Road in Howrah Maidan area when they tried to march towards the state secretariat as a part of their Nabanna Abhijaan.
Police lathi-charged and used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protestors who threw stones and bricks at the security forces and attempted to topple barricades blocking their way.
A policeman, who identified himself as the in-charge of Chanditala police station in Howrah Police Commissionerate, was injured in the clash.
A similar situation unfolded in Hastings and MG Road area, where protestors threw stones at police, who were seen chasing them away.
“Why were we beaten by police? We did not break any laws. We are holding a peaceful rally to demand justice for the deceased doctor. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should take responsibility and resign,” said a woman protester.
Police said they began lathi-charging and tear gassing after the protesters breached barricades at some locations and attacked security personnel.
- 27 Aug 2024 2:14 PM IST
Suvendu threatens to "stall" Bengal
Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that police resorted to “brutal repression” on the peaceful participants of Nabanna Abhijan rally and threatened to stall West Bengal if the “brutalities” by the state administration are not stopped.
“Police are using water cannon on peaceful protesters at Santragachi, used tear gas shells on the students at Howrah bridge, lathi-charged them at College Street. Please stop these brutalities immediately,” the senior BJP leader told reporters.
Adhikari said, “If the police repression is not stopped immediately, we (BJP) will stall West Bengal tomorrow.”
- 27 Aug 2024 2:05 PM IST
4 students not missing but arrested: Police on Suvendu's claim
West Bengal Police have rejected BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s claim that four student activists were “missing”, saying that they were arrested for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy of murder and attempted murder case.
Without taking any name, the police said the “missing” allegation was false and claimed that the four were reportedly planning to “orchestrate large-scale violence” during Nabanna Abhijan.
Earlier in the day, the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly alleged that four student activists of the saffron party, who were scheduled to arrive at Howrah station, had gone missing from midnight.
“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. The four were planning to orchestrate large-scale violence during the Nabanna Abhijan today and were involved in a conspiracy of murder and attempted murder. They have been arrested in the interest of public safety and security, and their families have been informed,” Bengal Police posted on X.
Later, speaking to the media, Howrah Police Commissioner Praveen Kumar Tripathi said the four were arrested under the BNSS clause 172 in “Preventive Action of the Police” because they were involved in a conspiracy.
“They were arrested under preventive actions because they were conspiring,” Tripathi said.
The BJP leader later said that the families of the students had moved Calcutta High Court and were moving a case against the Bengal Police, particularly against Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, and Howrah CP Praveen Tripathi.
“Police did not inform the family. The family has already moved the Calcutta High Court and the lawyer will move the case mainly against Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, Howrah CP Praveen Tripathi. People (of Bengal) are watching this,” he said.
Adhikari also alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government has spent Rs 3-4 crore for security arrangements despite the rally was not organised by any political party.
“The Bengal government has spent Rs 3-4 crore to arrange everything. No political party was involved in this rally. All parties have said that. Despite that they (state government) have taken so much effort to make such an elaborate arrangement,” he said.
