Nabanna Abhijan rally: Police fire water cannons

Police charged with batons and used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters who threw stones and bricks at security forces and tried to overturn barricades blocking their access to the state secretariat.

A police officer, who identified himself as the in-charge of Chanditala police station in Howrah police station, was injured in the clash.

A similar situation took place in the Hastings and MG Road area, where protesters threw stones at the police, who were seen chasing them away.

“Why were we beaten by the police? We have not broken any law. We are holding a peaceful rally to demand justice for the deceased doctor. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should take responsibility and resign,” said a protester.

The protesters were trying to reach the state secretariat, Nabanna, to demand the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College.

Police said they started baton charging and using tear gas after the agitators broke through barricades at some places and attacked security personnel.

Earlier in the day, police resorted to baton charge and used water cannons and tear gas to disperse agitators at the Kolkata end of the Howrah bridge and near Santragachhi railway station on the Kona Expressway as protesters tried to break through police barricades in a bid to reach Nabanna.

In Santragachhi, agitators pelted bricks at police, injuring several officers, while protesters claimed that the police action also injured several students.

The unrest intensified when the student organisation ‘Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj’ and the platform of dissident state government employees ‘Sangrami Joutha Mancha’ launched their rally ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ from various points.