Kolkata doctor rape and murder case: 6,000 guards in Nabanna as anger mounts

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is the target of simmering public anger over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The CM has deployed 6,000 security personnel outside Nabanna, the Secretariat in Howrah, ahead of a planned protest march demanding his resignation.

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For the ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ organised by the Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, the Kolkata Police and Howrah City Police have turned the area around Nabanna into a fortress with three-tier security. There are 19 barricades in place, five of which are made of aluminium.

Besides Kolkata Police and Howrah City Police, combat forces, Heavy Radio Flying Squad (HRFS), Rapid Action Force (RAF), Quick Reaction Team (QRT) and water cannons have been deployed to deal with any escalation during the protest.

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An additional commissioner of police has been assigned to maintain law and order. Deputy commissioners of police and assistant commissioners of police will be in charge of several locations including Howrah Bridge, Hastings and Hooghly Bridge.

Additional security forces have already been deployed in Kolkata from various districts. The police are focusing on major locations like Hastings, Shibpur Road, Howrah Bridge and Howrah Maidan.

The Kolkata Police has sent an email to the organiser of ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ seeking information about the number of people who will be present at the rally, the names of the leaders who will lead the protest march, the number of rallies that will be held and what the route of the protest will be. However, the police are yet to receive any response from the student organisation.

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