Police on Tuesday lathi-charged, used water cannons and tear gas to disperse agitators at Howrah Bridge’s Kolkata end and near Santragachi Railway station on Kona Expressway as protestors attempted to break through police barricades in an effort to reach the state secretariat, Nabanna.
At Santragachi, agitators threw bricks at police, injuring several officers, while protestors claimed that police action also injured several students. The Kolkata police which called the march “illegal” are using water cannons and tear gas shells on the protesters who are resorting to breaking barricades and throwing stones at the policemen deployed along the route.
Hundreds of students participated in Chhatra Samaj’s ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and action against those responsible for the alleged rape-murder of a doctor in RG Kar hospital.
A huge number of youth holding Tricolours in their hands and banners demanding action in the rape case were seen marching towards the secretariat in the different parts of Kolkata. The visuals from Kolkata showed that several students tried to break barricades erected by the police to stop them. After the crackdown on the marchers, the Kolkata Police detained them at Howrah Bridge.
“Police are targeting armless youth. We came here to seek accountability from the Mamata government but the police personnel are attacking us,” said one of the protesters during the clash with police near Howrah Bridge.
The police resorted to lathi charge and used water cannons and tear gas to stop protesters as they were adamant about proceeding ahead towards the secretariat. A few incidents of stone-pelting were also reported. Some protesters targeted security personnel during the violent march.
The BJP which is said to be backing the student body has claimed that police lathi charge has led to several protesters being injured. The ‘March to Nabanna’ seeks the resignation of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in light of the alleged rape and murder of the trainee doctor at R G Kar Hospital.
