Violence in ‘Uttarkaya Abhiyan’ of CPI (M) youth wing in Siliguri

Photo Courtesy and source : EastMojo

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, 13 APRIL 2023 : Violence erupted in Siliguri on Thursday during the ‘Uttarkanya Abhiyan’ of DYFI, the youth wing of the CPI (M), demanding permanent appointment to vacant posts, creation of permanent new posts and against financial corruption and politics of division in West Bengal. 

The police lobbed teargas shells and baton-charged DYFI workers to disperse the rally. DYFI West Bengal state general secretary Minakshi Mukherjee was arrested along with several others. 

The movement of traffic came to a standstill in parts of Siliguri because of the agitation. Hundreds of DYFI workers marched in a rally from Air View More, holding party flags, towards Uttarkanya, the branch secretariat of the West Bengal Government in Siliguri. The police set up two barricades to stop them. 

As the agitators tried to rush the barricades the police stopped them. Stones were hurled o the police who fired tear-gas shells and lathi-charged the protestors. The DYFI leaders squatted on the road when they were arrested. Some DYFI supporters locked the main gate of Uttarkanya as a mark of protest. 

Minakshi Mukherjee alleged Trinamool Congress supporters had hurled stones on the police from rooftops of adjoining houses to provoke the violence. 

“We had given prior notice for the rally, but the police suddenly stopped us and attacked our peaceful march. We were going to submit a deputation at Uttarkanya abut the police made a lathi-charge and lobbed tear gas shells on our supporters