In pictures: Nabanna march turns bloody. Protesters break barricades, cops use water cannon and teargas to disperse crowd

Call for ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally by ‘Chhatra Samaj’ to see chief minister’s resignation turns violent, protesters waving national flag clash with cops

TT, 27.08.24 :  Despite the Bengal administration declaring the 'Nabanna Abhijan' illegal on Monday, the student organization, Paschimbanga Chattro Samaj (West Bengal Student Society) proceeded with the protest march on Tuesday, as scheduled.

The Kolkata Police bandobast near the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road and all arterial roads leading to the state secretariat resembled an impending battle between the protesters and the cops. On Monday, cops erected seven feet tall barricades and put cargo containers on the road.

Police personnel deployed at Howrah Bridge in view of 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally called by Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, a students' organisation, to protest against the alleged sexual assault and murder of a trainee doctor, in Kolkata, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.: PTI

In anticipation of violence, over 5,000 personnel were deployed by the Kolkata Police for the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ protest. The protest started around 1 pm on Tuesday.

X/ BefittingFacts

Demanding the resignation of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, the rally to the state secretariat highlighted the alleged mishandling of the rape and murder of a 31-year old trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Howrah Bridge closed in the view of a students' group's protest march to state secretariat over R G Kar Medical College and Hospital incident, in Kolkata, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.:PTI

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Manoj Verma indicated on Monday that there were credible intelligence inputs about attempts by miscreants to incite chaos during the protest. The government has imposed prohibitory orders near Nabanna (the state secretariat) under Section 163 of the BNSS, restricting gatherings of five or more people.

The Calcutta high court on Friday had granted permission for the rally.

Crowd of protestors in College Square: Screengrab

College Square

A sizable crowd gathered around College square in Kolkata as the ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ protest march began.The police tried to prevent protesters from College Square from crossing the Vidyasagar Setu. The police set up barricades at Turf View Road, Hastings, Furlong Gate, and Kidderpore Road.

Police use water canons on protestors : X/@BhwaniShankar1

Drones monitored the state secretariat to provide a comprehensive view of the marchers. A PTI video posted on X, showed the police using water cannons to disperse protesters at Howrah Bridge.

Police use water cannons to disperse students who were marching from Howrah Maidan towards the state secretariat in protest against the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital incident, in Howrah, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.: PTI

Howrah Maidan

Clashes broke out between police and protestors on GT Road in Howrah Maidan area when they tried to march towards the state secretariat as a part of their 'Nabanna Abhijaan' on Tuesday afternoon.

Police personnel try to stop students who were marching from Howrah Maidan towards the state secretariat in protest against the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital incident, in Howrah, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.: PTI

Police lathi-charged and used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protestors who threw stones and bricks at the security forces and attempted to topple barricades blocking their way to the state secretariat.

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

Police use water cannons to disperse students: PTI

MG Road

A similar situation unfolded in Hastings and MG Road area, where protestors threw stones at police, who were seen chasing them away.

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

Police said they began lathicharging and tear gassing after the agitators breached barricades at some locations and attacked security personnel.

RAF personnel lathi-charge during a protest march by Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj activists to Nabanna (state secretariat) against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor.: 

Santragachhi

Police on lathi-charged, used water cannons and tear gas to disperse agitators at Howrah Bridge's Kolkata end and near Santragachhi Railway station on Kona Expressway as protestors attempted to break through police barricades in an effort to reach the state secretariat, Nabanna.

Police personnel detain a Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj activist during a protest march to Nabanna (state secretariat) against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor.: PTI

At Santragachhi, agitators threw bricks at police, injuring several officers, while protestors claimed that police action also injured several students.

The protestors were attempting to reach the state secretariat to demand the removal of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the rape-murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College.

Several schools suspended classes and postponed the half-yearly exams scheduled for Tuesday. Many others have opted to close early or shift to online classes because of concerns about potential disruptions on the roads.

Police personnel try to stop students who were marching from Howrah Maidan towards the state secretariat in protest against the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital incident, in Howrah, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.PTI

The protest against Mamata Banerjee has erupted in response to widespread outrage over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. Statewide protests by people across professions and age groups have been continuing in the city for the past 18 days.

RG Kar Medical College and Hospital junior doctors during their sit-in protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor, in Kolkata, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.: PTI

The ongoing cease-work by junior doctors at RG Kar Hospital has now entered its seventeenth day, making it the longest-running protest on hospital campuses since the 1980s.

Labeling the rally as a "conspiracy" to incite chaos on the streets, the Trinamul Congress released several purported videos showing Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from Ghatal in Paschim Medinipur district allegedly planning to provoke violence at the event. The police have detained both leaders for questioning the plot.

The CPM alleged that the proposed march on Tuesday was a calculated attempt by the saffron ecosystem to divert attention from the rising public demand for justice.

Through social media, Left leaders and supporters have warned their supporters to avoid falling into the “Rightwing trap.”

Governor CV Ananda Bose has urged the state government to refrain from using force to prevent the rally, advocating for the students' right to protest.