West Bengal Unrest and Tensions Rise Over Nabanna Abhijan March and Demands for Justice
West Bengal has witnessed massive unrest on the second day of the Indian calendar too specifically on Tuesday, the 27th august as the protesters held demonstrations during the planned Nabanna Abhijan March to the state secretariat in Kolkata. The protest was staged to press for the removal of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after a 31 years-old trainee doctors’ rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Organizers and Support
The march was called by the unregistered student group Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj (West Bengal Students Community) and the Sangrami Joutha Mancha (Joint Platform of Struggle), a coalition of state government employees seeking parity in their dearness allowance (DA) with their central government counterparts. Support for the protest has been significant on social media, but it has faced strong opposition from local authorities.
Police Response and Security Measures
Kolkata Police have deemed the Nabanna Abhijan March rally “illegal” and “unauthorized,” prompting heightened security measures to manage potential law and order issues. Additional Commissioner of Police Kolkata, Supratim Sarkar, announced the rejection of the students’ application to hold the march. ADG (Law and Order) Manoj Verma expressed concerns about potential violence, citing credible intelligence about plans to incite chaos during the rally.
To counter such, the state government has invoked section 163 CrPC near Nabanna, banned assembly of people five in number and above. About 4,500 policemen will be posted across the two cities at crucial points putting barriers to the protesters entering the secretariat. riot control vehicles, water cannons, tear gas shells, guard rails and drone are also being used.
Impact on UGC-NET Examination
Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj spokesperson Sayan Lahiri assured that the march would not disrupt the UGC-NET examination scheduled for the same day, which will be held in two shifts: Affordability of its stock is planned for 9:30 am – 12:30 pm, and the purchasing of stock is scheduled to be available at 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm. This assurance was made with a view to allaying the impression of the effect on candidates who write the exam, which is very significant in academical and research related appointments.
Political Reactions and Allegations
The ruling Trinamool Congress has criticized the Nabanna Abhijan March saying it is a conspiracy to tarnish the image of the state & cause unrest. They also released videos that they claimed to show BJP leaders of Ghatal, Paschim Medinipur district, planning to provoke tension in the protest. In response, the police detained accused BJP leaders for questioning.
The Bengal BJP, however, has officially stated that it will not participate in the Nabanna Abhijan March but supports any non-partisan protests seeking justice for the RG Kar hospital victim. BJP President Sukanta Majumdar criticized the videos as “doctored” attempts to undermine what he claims is a fundamentally non-political movement.
Governor’s Call for Restraint
Amidst the events which unfolded, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose made a video statement asking the state government not to overpolice to stop the students from marching. The Governor has appealed to reason in light of this pointing to the public nature of the protest and the environment that the protest s taking place.
Widespread Outrage and Ongoing Protests
This incident where the trainee doctor was raped and killed has called for lots of controversy in the country. The ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ is one of the many protests that have come up in the wake of the sad incident, and is an indication that the public is now very angry and is now calling for a change.
Complex Dynamics of Protest and Law Enforcement
As different high-stake issues unfold say, the relationship between protesters, the various political factions and the police force informs an understanding of the politics of post-conflict spaces. The problem for the West Bengal administration remains to separate the rights of citizens to protest on one hand and public safety on the other while the citizenry still seeks justice for the young woman and the total overhaul of the examination malpractices.
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