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The streets of Kolkata witnessed chaotic scenes as police clashed with protesters marching towards the state secretariat, Nabanna. The protest, sparked by the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9th, quickly escalated as police deployed teargas shells and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Protesters responded by throwing stones at the police, highlighting the escalating tensions in the city.
The protest, which was not authorized, had been condemned by the ruling Trinamool Congress as a conspiracy to incite unrest and violence. Kolkata Police, anticipating the demonstration, transformed Nabanna into a fortified zone, deploying over 6,000 personnel and utilizing drones for surveillance. Barricades, welded to the ground and greased to prevent scaling, further reinforced the security perimeter.
Despite the heavy police presence, a group of protesters, including members of student organizations and citizen forums, assembled at College Square and marched towards Nabanna. They chanted slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in response to the heinous crime. Visuals captured the protesters shaking the barricades in their path, demonstrating their determination to reach the secretariat.
While the Trinamool accused the BJP of orchestrating the protest, the organizers claimed it was an independent initiative by student groups. The lack of registration for many of the participating organizations and the disassociation of most established student outfits, including those affiliated with political parties, further complicated the political landscape surrounding the protest.
Adding fuel to the fire, Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly, claimed that four student activists involved in the protest disappeared after midnight. He alleged that they were likely arrested or detained by the Mamata Police, raising concerns about their safety. The Bengal police responded by stating that the students were apprehended in the interest of public safety, as they were planning large-scale violence and involved in a conspiracy of murder and attempted murder.
The Trinamool, on the other hand, viewed the protest as a deliberate attempt to create chaos under the guise of student activism. State Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya alleged that the BJP and the ABVP were orchestrating the unrest to incite violence and disrupt the upcoming exams. She released two videos, the authenticity of which was not verified by NDTV, which featured men stating their desire for “bodies.” Trinamool leader Jayprakash Majumdar further fueled the accusations by stating that the BJP was hoping for a Nandigram-type incident with fatalities to shift public opinion in their favor.
The protests in Kolkata, fueled by public outrage over the brutal crime and political tensions, have underscored the delicate balance between the right to protest and maintaining public order. The situation remains volatile, with the police's response and the motives behind the protest subject to intense scrutiny and debate.
Source: Anger On Kolkata Streets, Cops Use Water Cannons, Tear Gas On Protesters