Kolkata Nabanna March: Violent Clashes Erupt Between Protesters and Police; BJP Calls Bengal Bandh
Chaos gripped the streets of Howrah and Kolkata on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, as violent clashes broke out between protesters and police during the ‘March to Nabanna’. The protesters were demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the shocking rape and murder of a doctor at R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. Nabanna, the State Secretariat, was the focal point of the intense demonstration.
The situation quickly escalated as protesters and police engaged in pitched battles on the roads leading to the Secretariat. The police, in an effort to control the crowd, deployed numerous water cannons and fired hundreds of tear gas shells. Despite the aggressive measures, the protesters continued their march, attempting to breach the barricades set up to prevent them from reaching the Secretariat. However, the police successfully kept the crowd at bay, ensuring they could not come within 100 meters of the building.
The violence left a significant toll on both sides, with 126 protesters arrested and 15 police personnel injured during the confrontation. The unrest and heavy-handed response from the authorities have further fueled tensions, leading the BJP to call for a Bengal bandh in response to the government’s handling of the situation.
This march has intensified the political climate in West Bengal, with the BJP strongly criticizing the Mamata Banerjee administration and rallying support for their bandh call. As the situation continues to develop, the people of West Bengal are watching closely, anticipating the potential repercussions on the state’s political landscape.