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Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
‘Police pinned me to ground, broke my bangles: Mother of RG Kar victim ‘injured' in lathicharge during protest, hospitalised
THE PARENTS of a junior postgraduate trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last year, allegedly suffered injuries during a police lathicharge in Kolkata on Saturday, during their 'Nabanna Abhiyan' march towards the state secretariat. The mother has been admitted to a private hospital, sources said. The parents have claimed they were both beaten up by Kolkata Police personnel deputed at Park Street crossing as part of an attempt to stop the rally. The police, however, have denied all the allegations. The victim's mother claimed that her 'Shankha and pola' (bangles which Bengali married women wear) broke during the police lathicharge. 'Police tried to block us by putting up barricades. Why are you scared of us? We have no weapons, we just came here to seek justice for my daughter,' the mother said. 'Police pinned me to the ground. They broke my 'shankha' (traditional conch shell bangle) and I suffered an injury on my forehead,' the victim's mother alleged. 'The parents have not been detained. There is no allegation of the parents being injured during the lathi charge. If any allegations come then we will certainly look into them,' DC (Port) Harikrishna Pai told mediapersons. After she was injured, the victim's mother was taken to a hospital and after primary observation and treatment, she was admitted. According to the hospital sources, she is now stable. 'She has a haematoma (closed wound where blood collects) on the forehead. A CT scan will be done to assess the extent of both internal and external injuries and also whether she has any internal haemorrhage or not,' a hospital official said. 'The condition of the father is comparatively better. He will not be admitted but he will accompany his wife,' a hospital source said. Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said, 'She will be kept in observation and a CT scan will be done. She was crying and trying to talk but I did not. I think she is feeling ashamed that she was beaten up for asking for justice for her daughter.' On hearing about the victim's mother's injury, the protesting junior doctors including Asfaqullah Nayiya, Debashish Halder and others went to see her. 'We did not meet her because she is not well now,' Halder said. 'This administration always tries to only stop any protest movement by using force. Earlier, they did so with us also. We did not support this Nabanna Abhiyan. Thus, we did not take part but how can police lathicharge on a peaceful demonstration? It is not acceptable,' Asfaqullah said. Another rally – 'Kalighat Chalo' – was organised by Abhaya Mancha and other a-political organisations but it was also blocked at the Hazra More on Saturday evening. Sabina Yasmin – the mother of nine-year-old Tamanna Khatun who died in an alleged crude bomb attack during a TMC rally at Kaliganj in June this year – was also present in the rally. 'I also did not get justice… like the parents of the RG Kar victim. They did not think for a second before killing my nine-year-old daughter,' Yasmin said. Meanwhile, TMC leader Debangshu Bhattacharya alleged that the BJP is 'creating disturbance'. 'We have already said that BJP is doing this march to create disturbance. They insulted the sentiments of a mother who lost her daughter just a year ago,' he said. Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
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Business Standard
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Vehicles torched, cops injured in Bengal: What triggered the chaos?
Security has been tightened in West Bengal's Maheshtala following violent clashes between a mob and police personnel on Wednesday that left five officers injured and led to the torching of vehicles and widespread unrest, The Times of India reported. The violence unfolded in the Rabindranagar-Akra area, under the jurisdiction of the Rabindranagar Police Station, when a mob suddenly turned violent during a protest, pelting stones at the police. In response, officers, overwhelmed and outnumbered, resorted to a lathicharge and deployed tear gas to bring the situation under control. Among the injured was DC (Port) Harikrishna Pai, who, along with four other police personnel, sustained injuries during the scuffle. Two government vehicles were also reportedly damaged, and a motorcycle was set ablaze as clashes escalated. Reinforcements were called in swiftly, and senior officers led riot control teams to disperse the crowd. After regrouping near Santoshpur, the mob once again clashed with police forces, leading to another round of violence. However, after a sustained effort involving chase and crowd control measures, law enforcement successfully restored order in the affected areas. Meanwhile, patrolling has been intensified, and four individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence. What triggered the violence in West Bengal's Maheshtala? According to the report, the unrest stemmed from a simmering land dispute. Tensions flared when a group hastily constructed a 'tulsi mancha' at a location where a member of a minority community previously ran a shop. The shopkeeper was reportedly away celebrating Eid, and the other group alleged that the shop was built illegally on land belonging to a temple. Before authorities could intervene, the dispute spiraled into a violent confrontation, including road blockades and attacks on police officers. What did BJP, TMC say? Leader of the Opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari slammed the incident and said that the victims of the violence were from Hindu families. He also demanded immediate deployment of central forces in the area. 'Several police personnel were injured in the violence, and many police vehicles were torched. We demand immediate deployment of central forces in the area to save and protect people,' Adhikari said. In a post on X, Adhikari further stated, 'I have approached the SP of Diamond Harbour Police District and DGP @WBPolice so that today, I along with one MLA can visit Maheshtala under Rabindranagar Police Station to meet and express solidarity with the victims of the Hindu families and the affected Hindu shopkeepers who came under the attack of the Jihadis yesterday. This visit is a step towards understanding their grievances and ensuring their voices are heard. I hope that the Administration does not obstruct my visit.' Countering the BJP's claims, Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed suggestions that the incident was indicative of a breakdown in law and order. 'The incident in Maheshtala is not related to the overall law and order situation. However, the incident is unfortunate and highly condemnable. The police acted very responsibly and did not take any step to aggravate the situation,' Ghosh said. As of now, the West Bengal police have not issued an official statement regarding the incident. However, security forces remain on high alert, and patrols continue across sensitive zones in Maheshtala to prevent any further escalation.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
West Bengal clashes: Cops injured, vehicles set on fire, security heightened- what triggered the outrage?
NEW DELHI: Security has been heightened in Maheshtala after the area witnessed violent clashes between a mob and the West Bengal Police on Wednesday. Five police personnel, including DC (Port) Harikrishna Pai, sustained injuries, while two government vehicles were damaged and a motorcycle was torched as officers attempted to quell clashes in the Rabindranagar-Akra area. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now To control the situation, police carried out a lathicharge and used tear gas. Violence broke out near Rabindranagar Police Station when a crowd began to gather and suddenly turned violent, attacking the outnumbered police with stones. Reinforcements arrived, and police used lathicharge and tear gas to disperse the mob. However, the crowd regrouped near Santoshpur and clashed with Kolkata Police, injuring officers, including DC (Port) Rai. Riot police, led by senior officers, chased and dispersed the mob, eventually restoring order. Security forces conducted patrols in the area, and top police officials oversaw the operation. Four people were arrested, and the injured officers are reported to be in stable condition. What led to the clashes? The clashes erupted due to a dispute over land ownership. Locals say tensions began when a 'tulsi mancha' was hastily built at a spot where a minority community member had a shop. The trader was away for Eid, and the other group claimed the shop was illegally built on temple land. Before authorities could intervene, protests from both sides escalated into violence, roadblocks, and attacks on police. Leader of opposition in state and leader Suvendu Adhikari, however, claimed that the victims were Hindus and demanded deployment of central forces in the violence-hit area. "Several police personnel were injured in the violence, and many police vehicles were torched. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now We demand immediate deployment of central forces in the area to save and protect people," he said. "I have approached the SP of Diamond Harbour Police District and DGP @WBPolice so that today, I along with one MLA can visit Maheshtala under Rabindranagar Police Station to meet and express solidarity with the victims of the Hindu families and the affected Hindu shopkeepers who came under the attack of the Jihadis yesterday. This visit is a step towards understanding their grievances and ensuring their voices are heard. I hope that the Administration doest obstruct my visit," he further said in a post on X. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, however, dismissed the clashes being related to "overall law and order situation" "The incident in Maheshtala is not related to the overall law and order situation. However, the incident is unfortunate and highly condemnable. The police acted very responsibly and did not take any step to aggravate the situation," he said. The state police is yet to issue any statement.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Maheshtala clash: Cops hurt, govt vehicles set afire in West Bengal violence
KOLKATA: Five policemen, including DC (Port) Harikrishna Pai , were injured and two govt vehicles were damaged and a bike was set ablaze when cops tried to stop clashes in the Rabindranagar-Akra near Maheshtala on Wednesday. Police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas to rein in the situation. Till the last report came in, police continued raids and rounded up four persons. Route marches were also being held. The root of the problem, according to locals, could be traced to a "hurried construction of a tulsi mancha" at a spot, where a member of a minority community used to have a shop. The trader was away for Eid. But the other group alleged the shop was on an encroached land, which belonged to a local temple. Before the administration could mitigate, the two groups started protesting, which snowballed into violence and roadblocks. The mob then targeted police. Around 10 am, a crowd started building near the Rabindranagar Police Station. Between 2 pm and 2.30 pm, the mob suddenly attacked police, who were heavily outnumbered. The mob pelted cops with stones till additional forces arrived and they charged back. But as the unrelenting mob kept growing in number, police resorted to lathicharge and could finally disperse the crowd from the spot around 3.30 pm. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo But the mob headed towards Santoshpur level crossing and moved into the Nadial Police Station area under Kolkata Police. Another clash broke out around 4.30 pm, with the mob attacking KP cops, including the DC (port) Rai. Cops, in riot gear, formed smaller teams, each led by a senior officer. The police teams reportedly chased the protesters, lathicharged some and lobbed tear gas shells. The situation was brought to normalcy by around 6 pm. Armed battalions and RAF conducted route marches along a 3km radius between Santoshpur Rail Bridge and Rabindranagar PS. Kolkata Police commissioner Manoj Varma and ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar camped at the spot during this operation. Later, Varma met DCP Pai at a nursing home in Kolkata. "The situation is peaceful now. Raids are on. Four persons have so far been arrested. The injured cops' condition is stable," said a senior officer late at night. Police did not issue any statement. Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, condemning the incident, said despite being attacked, police handled the situation "firmly but with sensitivity". Ghosh, criticising Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari's comments, said, "Untoward incidents do take place. It happens everywhere. But what should our role be, to inflame it or act responsibly?" Adhikari, who staged a protest outside Bhawani Bhawan, demanded CAPF deployment. "The Calcutta High Court's CAPF deployment order (in Murshidabad) can also be implemented here," he said, indicating he might move court.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Time of India
Kol cops pick up law student from Ggn for post ‘hurting religious sentiments'
Kolkata: A law student at Symbiosis International University in Pune was on Friday arrested from Gurgaon by a Kolkata Police team for allegedly hurting religious sentiments in a video she posted on Instagram. The girl, who had been evading arrest, was apprehended following a court arrest warrant, said police, adding they acted after multiple protests in Kolkata. Her Instagram post reportedly contained "disrespectful and derogatory remarks", targeting a religion, while responding to a post on Operation Sindoor that the Instagrammer claimed was made by a Pakistani national. The girl lived in Kolkata earlier. "An FIR was lodged at the Garden Reach PS on May 15. Attempts to serve notice were not successful as the accused, with her family, absconded. A court issued an arrest warrant, based on which she was arrested from Gurgaon," said DC (port) Harikrishna Pai. Police said four FIRs had been pending against the student in Kolkata. The case has been registered under multiple sections, for promoting enmity between different groups on religious grounds and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings. If convicted, she can face imprisonment, a fine or both. After the controversy broke out, the girl deleted her post and apologised on X, stating: "I do hereby tender my unconditional apology. Whatever was put are my personal feelings and I never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody, so if anybody is hurt I'm sorry... I expect co-operation and understanding. Henceforth, I will be cautious in my public post. Again, please accept my apologies." She claimed she received rape and death threats. "I am sorry... Dear Indians, I have been trolled, threatened to be attacked and to be raped, murdered, taught a lesson for venting my anger towards radical Pakistani terrorists who killed my innocent countrymen... Mene wo sab saha, kyunki mere liye mera desh pehle aata hai," she shared. Vidya Yeravdekar, pro-VC at Symbiosis International University, said, "This incident is not a reflection of the college. The motto of Symbiosis is 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', which means the whole world is one family. Our ecosystem is such that we espouse respect for all religions and promote multiculturalism. We were shocked to see her post and took action as per the university code of conduct. A disciplinary committee was convened, which investigated the matter and gave the student a fair hearing. We issued her a notice on May 17, suspending her from all academic activities and debarred her from placements. She is a fourth-year student pursuing an integrated five-year law course. The students are on a break at the moment and have gone home. It is painful to see a student of ours hurting religious sentiments, and this goes against the very ethos of what Symbiosis stands for… ." About social media claims that the arrest was illegal, Kolkata Police said all legal procedures were followed. "We urge all concerned to refrain from spreading unverified or speculative content and to rely on authentic sources for information," KP posted on FB on Saturday. The girl was brought to Kolkata and the Alipore court on Saturday remanded her in judicial custody till June 13.
