Students in Kolkata have started a “Nabanna March” demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In response, a heavy police force has been deployed across the city, with surveillance at every corner. The Howrah Bridge has been sealed.
A large number of students have taken to the streets, demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The students had already announced the “Nabanna Abhiyan” protest. To stop this, a significant police force has been deployed, and surveillance is tight at every corner. The Howrah Bridge has been sealed, and an iron barricade was erected on the bridge, which the protesting students have pulled down. Four students have been detained. Stay tuned for live updates.
12:44 PM (2 hours ago)
Students have three demands
The students said that the protest began from a Facebook post. They outlined their three demands: justice for Abhaya, the death penalty for the perpetrator, and the resignation of Mamata Banerjee.
12:45 PM (2 hours ago)
TMC blames opposition
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has blamed the opposition for the protest, claiming that they are trying to create unrest in the state and have fuelled the agitation to disrupt the peace.
12:46 PM (2 hours ago)
Protesters removing barricades
Kolkata Police set up barricades, but a large number of protesters have taken to the streets, chanting slogans at various locations.
12:46 PM
Who called for the protest
This protest was organised by Prabir Das, an MA student at Rabindra Bharati University, along with Shubhankar Haldar and Sayan Lahiri from Kalyani University. They stated that they have no political affiliations but demand Mamata Banerjee’s resignation as Chief Minister.
12:47 PM
Strong police arrangements
To prevent the protest, Kolkata Police have closed several roads, and drones are being used for surveillance.
1:02 PM
Protesters remove barricades
Students participating in the Nabanna protest have torn down the police barricades. Subsequently, the police used batons to disperse the protesters. Stone-pelting also occurred, and the police fired tear gas shells. The police are trying to convince the students to disperse, informing them that their protest is illegal.
1:11 PM
Police using batons to disperse protesters
Protesters are attempting to move forward, but the police are pushing them back using water cannons. Despite the forceful water jets and being pushed back, the protesters are standing up again and continuing their protest. A large number of police personnel are present at the scene. The advancing protesters are being dispersed with batons.
1:31 PM
Police pushing back protesting students
Police are pushing back the protesting students, using water cannons and tear gas shells intermittently to scatter them whenever they attempt to move forward.
1:37 PM
Police firing tear gas shells
To disperse the protesters, police are firing tear gas shells. Whenever the protesters attempt to advance, the police push them back using water cannons, followed by tear gas shells.
1:46 PM
TMC MP labels protest as hooliganism
Trinamool Congress MP Sayani Ghosh has labelled the student protest as hooliganism. She remarked that the protest resembles rowdy behaviour, with hardly any women present. There are only 4-5 national flags, and the protest seems like a picnic where protesters are enjoying the water jets as a refreshing shower.
2:02 PM
Protesters stage sit-in on Howrah Bridge
Despite the baton charges, water cannon sprays, and tear gas shells, protesters are refusing to retreat from the Howrah Bridge. While the police and administration are attempting to push them back, some protesters have sat down on the bridge in protest. A few of them are also holding the national flag.
2:52 PM
Protest turns violent, stone pelting on police
The ongoing protest in Kolkata has turned violent. The police are firing tear gas shells at the intruders, while the protesters are pelting stones at the police. In the meantime, several images have emerged showing protesters beating up policemen.
3:42 PM Protesters climb barricades, police use force
Around 1,000 protesters have reached the Hastings area, with some climbing the barricades. The police have fired tear gas to disperse the protesters. Barricades were placed on Howrah Bridge by the police to stop the protest march towards Nabanna (state secretariat), but the protesters began to leap over them. As the situation turned chaotic, the police resorted to water cannons and baton charges.
3:58 PM
Nabanna Abhiyan is a movement of common people to save Bengal: Sukanta Majumdar
West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar criticised the police for using force against protesters during the Nabanna Abhiyan. He stated that the police baton-charged the students and fired tear gas shells. He alleged that some policemen were intoxicated during the incident. The police also sprayed chemically-laced water. He questioned, “Did the students do anything wrong?” Majumdar also claimed that in a drunken state, a policeman struck a woman on the head with a baton. He described the movement as one led by common people to save Bengal. One student was hospitalised with injuries, and Majumdar said it is unclear whether the injury was caused by a bullet or a tear gas shell. This incident, according to him, proves that the Left Front is colluding with the ruling party. Majumdar also mentioned that they would sit for a protest tomorrow or the day after, pending the court’s order, as they have approached the High Court, which will hear the case tomorrow. The police have not permitted them to hold a protest. The BJP’s women’s wing will organise a “Lock the Women’s Commission” campaign on 30th August. In protest of today’s events, the BJP has called for a Bengal bandh tomorrow from 6 AM to 6 PM.
To be updated live in case of further violence
