Nabanna Abhijan Protest Intensifies Amid Controversy Over Student Activists’ Arrests and Kolkata Rape-Murder Case
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/27th August 2024
The Nabanna Abhijan protest in West Bengal has reached a critical point, with the West Bengal Police dismissing claims by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari that four student activists were missing. The police clarified that the students had been arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder, refuting Adhikari’s accusations. This incident adds to the growing tension surrounding the protest, which has seen widespread clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also become involved, filing a money laundering case to investigate financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. This institution is at the center of the controversy, following the alleged rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor. The ED’s involvement follows an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), further complicating the ongoing investigation.
BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia has strongly criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of targeting students instead of criminals. Bhatia referred to Banerjee as a “dictator” and questioned the silence of the INDI alliance on the matter. His statements have only fueled the already heated political climate.
The protestors, incensed by the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case, have been relentless in their demonstrations. They have broken police barricades, clashed with security personnel, and marched towards the West Bengal State Secretariat, Nabanna. The police have responded with tear gas, water cannons, and lathicharges to disperse the crowds, leading to scenes of chaos and violence, particularly on Howrah Bridge.
Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, has accused the police of brutal repression against the peaceful protestors. He warned that if the state administration’s “brutalities” continued, the BJP would bring West Bengal to a standstill. Adhikari specifically highlighted the use of water cannons at Santragachi, tear gas shells on Howrah Bridge, and lathicharges at College Street as examples of police excesses.
The situation has drawn widespread attention, with over 6,000 police personnel stationed with three-layer security outside Nabanna. The protestors are demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, citing her government’s delay in delivering justice in the RG Kar Medical College case. The protests have been marked by a series of clashes, with demonstrators dragging away police barricades and scaling them in defiance of the authorities.
The involvement of the CBI has added another layer to the controversy. The agency has been examining the house and documents of the medical superintendent of RG Kar Hospital, seizing items such as computers and hard disks as part of their investigation. Additionally, the police have resorted to unconventional methods, such as oiling barricades to prevent protestors from gripping and moving them.
The ruling Trinamool Congress has labeled the Nabanna Abhijan rally as illegal, accusing the protestors of attempting to incite unrest in Kolkata. However, the Chhatra Samaj, one of the groups organizing the protest, has rejected these claims, insisting that their intentions are peaceful.
The protests have also disrupted daily life in Kolkata, with educational institutions closing or shifting classes online. Traffic has been heavily affected, with goods traffic halted on several key roads in central Kolkata. Despite the disruptions, the protestors remain undeterred, continuing their march towards Nabanna with a firm resolve to demand justice and accountability from the state government.
