Water Cannons and Tear Gas Deployed as Kolkata Streets Erupt in Protest

Photo : ANI

Kolkata: The streets of Kolkata have erupted into chaos as police clashed with protesters demanding justice for the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident, which took place on August 9, has sparked outrage and led to a major demonstration towards the state secretariat, Nabanna.

The demonstration, which was not authorized, saw riot police deploy tear gas and water cannons in an attempt to disperse the crowds. Some protesters responded by hurling stones at the officers. The ruling Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of orchestrating the protests to incite violence, while the organizers maintain that it is a student-led initiative.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel

In response to the unrest, Kolkata Police transformed Nabanna into a heavily fortified zone, deploying approximately 6,000 officers to block any access to the secretariat. Barricades were reinforced with welding and greased to prevent protesters from scaling them, and drones were used to monitor the situation from above.

The protests began at College Square, where demonstrators marched towards Nabanna chanting slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The rally was supported by various student organizations and citizen forums, though many known student groups, including those with political affiliations, have distanced themselves from the protest.

Amid the unrest, Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, reported that four student activists involved in organizing the protest had disappeared after midnight. Adhikari expressed concerns that they may have been detained by the police, and called for accountability. Bengal police, however, asserted that the students were allegedly planning significant violence and were detained for public safety. The families of the missing students have approached the Calcutta High Court seeking their release.

One of the protest organizers, Shubankar Halder, previously associated with the ABVP, has denied current links to the organization, describing the protest as apolitical. Despite this, the Trinamool Congress has labeled the march as a BJP-ABVP plot to create disorder and disrupt public life, citing unverified videos that purportedly show calls for escalating violence.

State minister Chandrima Bhattacharya criticized the protestors, suggesting that the timing—coinciding with upcoming exams—indicates a deliberate attempt to cause disruption. The Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of seeking a dramatic confrontation similar to past incidents in Nandigram to shift public sentiment in their favor.

Aug. 27, 2024 3:24 p.m. 550

#trending #latest #KolkataProtests #NabannaMarch #WestBengalProtests #PoliceClash #StudentProtests #JusticeForDoctor #MamataBanerjee #BJPProtests #TMCAccusations #KolkataPolice #StudentActivism #ProtestViolence #KolkataNews #PublicUnrest #ProtestAgainstInjustice #headlines #topstories #globalUpdate #dxbnewsnetwork #dxbnews #dxbdnn #dxbnewsnetworkdnn #bestnewschanneldubai #bestnewschannelUAE #bestnewschannelabudhabi #bestnewschannelajman #bestnewschannelofdubai #popularnewschanneldubai