More than 6,000 Kolkata Police personnel have been deployed in the city in the wake of the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ protest planned by students, seeking Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation on Tuesday.
The students will march to Nabanna, the West Bengal Secretariat in Howrah, seeking CM’s resignation amid outrage over the rape-murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The march has been called by Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj.
Kolkata and Howrah police have been deployed in areas surrounding the secretariat, barricades have been installed at 19 points, while five aluminium barricades have been erected at other key points, India Today reported.
Combat forces, Heavy Radio Flying Squads (HRFS), Rapid Action Force (RAF), Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) and water cannons have been deployed to tackle any possible chaos during the protest.
Section 144 imposed around Nabanna
Police received applications from Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj and Sangrami Joutha Mancha on Monday afternoon about the planned march but rejected them because of the UGC-NET examinations on Tuesday and BNSS 163 was in place around Nabanna (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita clause 163, formerly Section 144). The organisers were told to choose another day and “a non-restricted venue” where protests could be allowed.
Earlier on Monday, the West Bengal Police said on Monday that the protest was “illegal” and they did not receive any permission for holding such a march towards Nabanna. The police cited intelligence inputs over possible chaos and violence and conspiracy against the police personnel during the protest.
Addressing a press conference, Additional Director General of Police (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar claimed that a student leader involved in organising the protest met a prominent political figure at a five-star hotel in Kolkata on Sunday.
Without disclosing the identity of this “student leader”, Sarkar said there were “concerns about possible disruptions” during the protest march.
“The organisers have been informed of the restrictions imposed near Nabanna. The police have banned gatherings of more than five people around the area,” the ADG said. Significantly, the Left and its student outfits have distanced themselves from the rally, which they claim is a “BJP-RSS ploy” to “detract from the people’s movement” over the rape and murder of a junior doctor.
The BJP has denied involvement in the rally.
Traffic restrictions
In view of the planned march, traffic movement is likely to be affected at Vidyasagar Setu and its ramps, Khidderpore Road, Taratala Road, DH Road, Circular Garden, Reach Road, Garden Reach Road, Hide Road, Coal Berth Road, Remount Road, all other feeder roads connecting these major roads, and western part of Kolkata, including Kolkata Dock and Port System.
Other places where traffic could be impacted are: JL Nehru Road, RR Avenue, Red Road, New Road, Dufferin Road, Mayo Road, Outram Road, Hospital Road, Lovers Lane, Queensway, Casuarina Avenue, Cathedral Road, AJC Bose Road, SN Banerjee Road, Old Court House Street, Council House Street, Kingsway, St Georges Gate Road, Strand Road, MG Road, Strand Bank Road, KK Tagore Street, Kalakar Street, Brabourne Road and Howrah Bridge.
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Why is CM’s resignation being demanded?
On August 9, the semi-naked body of a trainee doctor was found in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. An autopsy later confirmed that the victim, who was a postgraduate second-year student, was raped and murdered.
Sanjoy Roy was arrested the next day in connection with the incident and is in judicial custody. The CBI, which is probing the rape-murder case, conducted a polygraph test on Roy on Sunday.
Several protests have been held in Kolkata and elsewhere across the country, demanding action against the culprits in the case and justice for the victim. The protesters, including nurses and resident doctors, are demanding strict laws to deal with rape and murder.
The opposition has been demanding CM Mamata Banerjee’s resignation over the incident. However, the BJP has denied any involvement in the march, saying that if members of their party attend any protests, it is in their individual capacity.
The Trinamool Congress defended West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee amid calls for her resignation, terming the opposition’s demands as “patriarchal”.
The party further slammed the Nabanna Abhijan, a protest march announced by students’ organisation, saying that it is an attempt to create chaos in the state.