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 12:32 PM IST
Suvendu alleges 4 student activists 'missing'; police arrest them in attempt to murder case
West Bengal Police on Tuesday refuted Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari's claim that four student activists were "missing", saying that they were arrested for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy of murder as well as attempted murder.
Without taking any name, the police said that the "missing" allegation was false and claimed that the four were reportedly planning to "orchestrate large-scale violence" during Tuesday's Nabanna Abhijan.
Earlier in the day, the BJP leader alleged that four student activists of the saffron party, who were scheduled to arrive at the Howrah station, were 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.
Expressing his apprehensions that the four students were arrested by the state police, Adhikari alleged that neither the four student activists were traced nor were they responding to the calls made to their mobile phones.
"The following student activists who were distributing food to the volunteers, who were arriving at Howrah Station, suddenly went missing after midnight. Neither they can be traced nor are they answering their phones. We apprehend that they may have been arrested/detained by the Mamata Police," Adhikari posted on X.
Adhikari cautioned that "if something happens to them (four student activists) Mamata Police will be held accountable".
A complaint was lodged with the Golabari Police Station, an officer said
- 27 Aug 2024 11:59 AM IST
Security personnel being briefed at Fort Williams
#WATCH | West Bengal: Heavy Police presence at the backside of Fort William at Hastings, in Kolkata. A march to Nabanna has been called today, over RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case. pic.twitter.com/v9mDdwrVoM
— ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2024 - 27 Aug 2024 11:44 AM IST
Protesters chant slogans near barricades at Santragachhi
Protesters have begun gathering near the barricades put up by police at Santragachhi. Many of them are chanting slogans and blowing conches, demanding police to open the barricades and let them pass.
Police teams are ready with batons and water cannons at the spot to deal with any law-and-order situation.
Besides barricades, police are also deploying containers at several city stretches to prevent protesters from reaching Nabanna.
- 27 Aug 2024 10:32 AM IST
Routes where vehicular movement has been restricted
Vehicular movement has been restricted on the following routes:
Kona Expressway between Nibra and second Hooghly Bridge
Andul Road between Alampur and Lakshmi Narayantala More
GT Road between Mallick Fatak and Betaitala, beteen Mandirtala and Second Hooghly Bridge, between Kazipara and Second Hooghly Bridge
Foreshore Road-Kazipara to Ramkrishnapur Crossing
- 27 Aug 2024 10:31 AM IST
What security arrangements are in place at Nabanna?
Police have deployed Vajra vehicles, water cannons, and Riot Control Force in the area. Containers have also been placed on the road to prevent the entry of protesters.
Police have also issued traffic advisory, while making diversions for several routes connecting the city to various areas.