Chaos and violent agitation engulfed the streets of Kolkata and Howrah on Saturday as members of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP, took to the streets to protest the alleged police excesses during a march to the West Bengal secretariat, Nabanna. The protest, which also marked the one-year anniversary of the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar hospital, turned ugly, resulting in injuries to protestors and police alike.
Clashes and Injuries
The situation escalated when Kolkata Police allegedly manhandled protestors at the Park Street crossing in central Kolkata, using batons to disperse the crowd. The altercation left several protestors injured, including BJP leaders and, most notably, the victim’s own mother. The mother sustained a head injury and was subsequently hospitalized, an incident she alleges was the result of a police assault.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma addressed the incident, calling the injury to the victim’s mother “regrettable.” He stated that the police would “probe into the matter” and take “action as required,” but stopped short of confirming the allegations, saying they “need to be probed.”
Police File Cases Against BJP Leaders
In the aftermath of the protest, the Kolkata Police have registered seven cases against two BJP MLAs, a party leader, and other protestors. The charges, filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, include obstructing police duties, assaulting officers, and causing damage to public property. BJP legislators Ashok Dinda and Agnimtra Paul, along with party leader Kaustav Bagchi, are among those named in the police complaints. The cases, lodged at the Park Street and Hare Street Police Stations, reportedly include non-bailable sections.
While the police have not confirmed the number of arrests made during the rally, five police officers who were injured during the face-off are currently undergoing treatment at SSKM Hospital. The Kolkata police commissioner visited the hospital to check on the injured personnel.
The BJYM, however, remains steadfast in their demand for justice for the RG Kar victim, and a thorough investigation into the alleged police misconduct during the protest.