Kolkata horror .... Situation is far from Normal ....:: 'Aapa regime' attacks protesters .... BJP calls for a 12-hour strike in West Bengal on Aug 28, Wednesday

The situation is far from normal, says state Governor.

The BJP has given the call for a 12-hour strike in West Bengal tomorrow (Aug 28) to protest the police action on a march to state secretariat 'Nabanna' over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

"We are forced to give the call for a general strike as this autocratic regime is turning a deaf ear to the voices of people, the demand for justice for the deceased doctor sister. Instead of justice, Mamata Banerjee's police are turning on the peace-loving people of the state, who only wanted a safe and secure environment for women," BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.   

Officially of course, no permission was given for the protest march and the ruling Trinamool Congress yesterday alleged a conspiracy to create unrest throw violence during the rally. Kolkata Police virtually turned Nabanna into a fortress and as many as 6,000 police personnel and security personnel were deployed to stop the protesters from advancing the secretariat from any route. 

Drones were also used to keep a watch on the protesters. Barricades have been welded into the ground and greased to prevent the protesters from scaling them.

On Tuesday morning, a group of protesters gathered at College Square and marched towards Nabanna. They raised slogans demanding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's resignation over the horrific rape and murder case. Visuals showed the protesters shaking the barricades in their way.

While the ruling Trinamool alleges this is a BJP-backed protest, the organisers have said it is a march planned by student organisations. Many of the outfits part of today's protest are not registered organisations. Most known student outfits, including those affiliated to political parties, have distanced themselves from the protest.

This morning, Leader of the Opposition in Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, said four student activists part of the protest plan went missing after midnight.

"The following Student Activists who were distributing food to the volunteers, who were arriving at Howrah Station, suddenly went missing after midnight :- Subhojit Ghosh, Pulokesh Pandit, Goutam Senapati, Pritam Sarkar. Neither they can be traced nor are they answering their phones.

Chaotic scenes played out on the streets leading to the state Secretariat - once called Writers' Building and now called 'Nabanna' - as police intercepted the massive  protest march.

Riot police used teargas shells, water cannons and batons to stop the protesters from proceedings towards the state secretariat. Some of the protesters were also seen throwing stones towards the cops.  We apprehend that they may have been arrested/detained by the Mamata Police. If something happens to them Mamata Police will be held accountable," Mr Adhikari said in a post on X.

Bengal police responded that the four were planning to orchestrate large-scale violence during today's march "and were involved in a conspiracy of murder and attempted murder". "They have been arrested in the Interest of public safety and security, and their families have been informed," they said. Mr Adhikari then said that the families of the four students have approached the Calcutta High Court.

One of organisers, Shubankar Halder, has said he used to be an ABVP member at one point, but is not linked to the organisation anymore. He said this protest is apolitical

At a press meet this evening, Trinamool leader and Bengal minister Chandrima Bhattacharya called the protest a "flop show". "We have all seen how the police have acted today despite provocation. They were insulted and stones were thrown," she said.

Condemning the BJP's bandh call, she said, "For years now, Bengal has not seen a bandh. BJP has called a bandh to gain political ground, but there will be no bandh tomorrow."

Earlier, the Trinamool said this march was an attempt to create chaos in the name of protest. Ms Bhattacharya told the media yesterday, "This is a BJP-ABVP plot to create disturbance. This is a plot to open fire by criminals in police uniform. Tomorrow there are exams. Can students do this? They are doing vulture politics."

Protests have rocked Kolkata, as well as cities across the country, demanding justice and a swift investigation, mirroring similar widespread demonstrations after the 2012 gang rape of a 23-year-old student on a moving bus in New Delhi.

Activists say women continue to face high levels of sexual violence despite tougher laws enacted since the 2012 attack, which spurred politicians to order harsher penalties for such crimes and set up fast-track courts dedicated to rape cases. The government also introduced the death penalty for repeat offenders.

In 2022, the latest year for which records are available, police recorded 31,516 reports of rape – a 20 percent jump from 2021.

West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose says, “I would say disproportionate force and coercive power was used by the state in dealing with the situation, ignoring the Supreme Court's own pronouncements that the state power shall not be unleashed against peaceful protesters. 

This is the ghastly sight which we saw today on the streets of Kolkata. 

Certainly, this cannot be appreciated in any manner...As Governor, I am watching, I have taken my own inference. 

Right at the moment, I have difficulties in making my decisions public. 

The gravity of the situation is such that all players in public life feel like coming together and challenging the irresponsible behaviour of the government. The situation is far from normal."

The Governor also said, "In the context of the peaceful protest announced by the student community of West Bengal and the reported suppression of the protest by certain instructions from the government, I would urge upon the government to remember the strong pronouncement of the Supreme Court of India. 

Let not the power of the state of West Bengal be unleashed on peaceful protesters. Democracy can have a silent majority, not a silenced majority. Remember that."

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