WATCH | 'Nabanna Abhijan' Rally In Kolkata: Police Uses Tear Gas, Lathicharge At Protestors

The 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally in Kolkata saw intense clashes between protesters and security forces as the march toward the West Bengal State Secretariat turned violent, on Tuesday.

Demonstrators gathered in large numbers, climbing police barricades and clashing with officers amid ongoing outrage over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, as reported by ANI.

'Nabanna Abhijan' Rally In Kolkata Takes Voilent

The rally began at the Santragachi area and saw protesters marching from College Square towards the Secretariat, waving the tricolor and chanting slogans. The situation escalated as protesters broke and dragged away barricades set up along their route. In response, the West Bengal Police deployed heavy security measures, including tear gas, water cannons, and lathicharge, to disperse the crowd. Riot control vehicles and barricades were also strategically placed to manage the surge.

Ahead of the protest, police had fortified the area around the Secretariat, including greasing the gates of Fort William at Hastings to prevent protesters from scaling them. Despite these preparations, the rally's scale and intensity overwhelmed the security forces, leading to significant confrontations, as reported by ANI.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose intervened with a video message urging the state government to respect the democratic right of peaceful protest. He reminded officials of the Supreme Court's stance on such matters, emphasizing that democracy should not be silenced by state power. "Democracy cannot silence the majority," he asserted.

The Additional Commissioner of Police Kolkata, Supratim Sarkar, announced that the police had rejected an application from the 'Paschimbanga Chhatro Samaj' to hold the rally, citing insufficient details and lack of formal permission. The protest was organized in the wake of the brutal murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, which has sparked nationwide outrage and led to numerous demonstrations calling for justice, as per media reports.

The clash at the 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally highlights the growing tensions and deep public concern surrounding the tragic incident, and underscores the challenges faced by authorities in managing large-scale demonstrations while upholding democratic principles.