Protests intensify at Nabanna Abhijan; tear gas and water cannons deployed by Bengal Police

Chaos ensues on Kolkata streets, barricades overrun, water cannons used on ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ protestors

Chaos unfolded across Howrah district and Kolkata on Tuesday as thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets for the ‘Nabanna Abhijan‘ (March to Bengal Secretariat). The protest was sparked by the recent rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital earlier this month.

A total of 6,000 policemen have been deployed for the Nabanna Abhijan, of which 2,000 are posted in and around the state Secretariat.

The march targeted Nabanna, the state secretariat located in Mandirtala, Howrah, adjacent to Kolkata. This crucial government building houses the offices of the Chief Minister, top ministers, and other senior officials of the West Bengal government. The large-scale agitation has disrupted normalcy in the area, drawing significant attention to the tragic incident that has provoked widespread outrage.

In the very first hour of the march, tension gripped Santragachi in Howrah where protesters tried to break through the barricades erected by the police to prevent the agitators from marching towards Nabanna.

Riot police deployed lathi-charges, tear gas, and water cannons to control the protesters during the Nabanna Abhijan. Protesters, some waving the Tricolour and shouting slogans, clashed with police, attempting to breach barricades on Howrah Bridge. The violence resulted in injuries to several officers, including a Rapid Action Force (RAF) member who required hospitalization. Sources indicate that no permission was granted for the protest, and the ruling Trinamool Congress accused opposition groups of conspiring to incite unrest.

The sources said a section of the protesters has blocked the busy Kona Expressway which connects Kolkata with the other districts, claiming that the police resorted to unprovoked attacks on them to prevent them from protesting peacefully.

“If the police want, they can shoot us. We are ready for bullets. But our protests will continue,” said an agitator.

However, the main rally that started from College Square in Central Kolkata with the maximum turnout of people has been peaceful so far.

The participants were heard raising slogans — ‘Dofa Ek, Dabi Ek, Mamata Banerjee Padotyag‘ (There’s only demand — Mamata Banerjee’s resignation), and ‘Justice for RG Kar‘.

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