Kolkata witnessed intense confrontations on Tuesday as police used tear gas, water cannons, and lathicharge to disperse protestors during the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally. The protestors, who had gathered on Howrah Bridge, were marching towards the West Bengal State Secretariat, Nabanna, amid widespread outrage over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The rally saw protestors clashing with security forces, as they climbed atop police barricades and broke through barriers erected in the Santragachi area en route to the Secretariat. The protest, which began early in the morning, saw a large number of students and citizens joining the march from College Square, carrying the national flag and chanting slogans.
In anticipation of the protest, the police had established a heavy security presence around Nabanna. Authorities deployed vajra vehicles, water cannons, and riot control forces, while containers were placed on roads to block the protestors’ advance. Additionally, civic workers were seen greasing the rear gates of Fort William at Hastings in a bid to prevent protestors from scaling the barricades.
The protest was called in response to the brutal rape and murder of the trainee doctor, whose body was discovered in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and numerous protests across the country, demanding justice for the victim.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, in a video message earlier in the day, urged the State government to refrain from using force against the protestors. He cited the Supreme Court’s ruling on the right to peaceful protest, stating that democracy should not suppress the voice of the majority.
The ‘Paschimbanga Chhatro Samaj’ had initially planned the rally for August 27 but faced rejection from the police for not seeking formal permission and providing insufficient details. Despite this, the protest went ahead, escalating into violent clashes as protestors attempted to reach the State Secretariat.