Team News Riveting
Kolkata, August 27
The Kolkata police resorted to lathi-charge and used force to disperse people marching to the state secretariat in protest against the trainee female doctor’s rape and brutal murder in RG Kar Hospital.
Ever since the gory details of the rape and murder came out, the West Bengal government-led by Mamata Banerjee has been facing public ire and criticism from the courts. Civil society, students, political parties, and the public at large have taken onto the streets against the West Bengal administration. They have accused it of mishandling the case and trying to suppress the public movement that is seeking Justice for Abhaya – the name given to the deceased trainee doctor.
As part of the ongoing protests, the student organisation ‘Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj’ and the dissident State government employees’ platform ‘Sangrami Joutha Mancha’ called a protest march – ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ on Tuesday. Barricades were erected overnight and welded together, with bamboo poles supporting to add another layer, cement poured to strengthen these structures, spikes put up, guardrails and cargo containers assembled to block the major thoroughfares leading to the state secretariat located across the Vidyasagar Setu in adjoining Howrah.
The enraged protestors marched towards the state secretariat building to demand the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for failing to take strict action against the culprits in the Kolkata rape and murder case.
However, the Kolkata Police resorted to lathi charges, and water cannons, and used tear gas canons to chase away peaceful demonstrators and stop them from reaching the State Secretariat. The visuals of which further galvanised the protesters and the general public alike. Several netizens have shared videos of the brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters.
The Police used force to disperse agitators at Howrah Bridge’s Kolkata end and near Santragachhi Railway station on Kona Expressway.
The Kolkata police have arrested 94 people and another 25 were taken into preventive custody.
