Police use batons, tear gas as BJP demands release of students arrested during 'Nabanna Abhijaan'

Kolkata: Police used teargas and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse BJP leaders and supporters when they marched towards Kolkata Police headquarters Lalbazar demanding the release of students arrested during the Nabanna Abhijan rally on Tuesday.

The rally was called for demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the wake of the recent rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at state-run R G Kar Medical College.

The police action began after BJP supporters attempted to break police barricades to enter Lal Bazaar.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, who led the march, fell ill after being exposed to tear-gas and subsequently left the scene.

Earlier a BJP procession led by Majumdar was stopped from advancing towards Lal Bazar.

In response, Majumdar, along with local BJP leaders, sat in protest at the barricade around 4:30 PM, demanding that the police clarify their stance on the arrests and seeking unconditional release of the students arrested during the Nabanna Abhijan.

After their demonstration yielded no response from the Police Commissioner or other senior officers, BJP leaders and supporters attempted to break the barricades to enter Lal Bazaar.

Police alleged that they have used force and arrested 94 protestors.

“The state president has warned the Police Commissioner to explain their stand on the arrests and ensure the unconditional release of the Bengali students who were detained from various locations during the march to Nabanna,” a state BJP leader said.

The Nabanna Abhijan rally, organised under the banner of 'Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj' and the dissident state government employees' platform 'Sangrami Joutha Mancha,' saw participation from various locations, including Howrah, Santragachi, Howrah Bridge, M G Road, and Princep Ghat.