Left activists, police clash near Nabanna

Kolkata: Police officers were injured in a clash that took place between the police and Left youth and students' wings during a protest rally that reached Nabanna on Friday. It is alleged that rallyists scaled high-rise buildings and pelted stones on police officers.

According to sources, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Student Federation of India (SFI) announced on Friday that they would reach Nabanna after they start their rally from Railway Museum in Howrah.

When the rally reached Bangabasi crossing at Mallick Fatak, the police geared up to block it ensuring no one from the locality come out on the street and shopkeepers were asked to down shutters. When the rally was moving towards the state secretariat at Mallik Fatak police tried stopping it and asked the rallyists to step back.

But the Democratic Youth Federation of India and Student Federation of India activists refused to obey the police. On the contrary, it is alleged that participants of the rally attacked the police. Keeping several aspects in mind, Howrah City Police arranged multiple layers of blockade to stop the rally.

In the primary layer, the police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Combat Force personnel, equipped with robocop suit, were deputed.

In the second layer, a barricade was set up using aluminum guard walls and in the third layer, police personnel with tear gas shells were deputed and water cannon were placed. After the rally was stopped by the police, protesters were asked to disperse but they refused.

Later, the protestors tried to move ahead forcefully and the police intervened.

It is alleged that after being blocked by the police, members of DYFI, SFI and other organisations started pelting stones and bricks on police personnel. The police also retaliated and restored to lathi-charge. It is alleged that a few of the protestors went to the rooftops of several buildings beside the road from where they pelted stones at police.

Apart from lathi-charge, senior police officials ordered to lob tear gas shells and use water canons on protestors to bring the situation under control.

After a few hours of clash, the police brought the situation under control. Several SFI and DYFI workers were arrested. However, Left activists claimed that some outsiders pelted stones at the police blaming DYFI and SFI were trying to malign them.