Traffic disrupted as BJP supporters clash with police

BJP’s protest march to the Chief Minister’s house demanding the arrest of those who heckled its MP Babul Supriyo on Wednesday turned violent on Thursday after the protestors tried to break a security barricade at Hazra More.

A huge contingent of police intervened and thwarted their bid to create chaos in front of the Chief Minister’s residence by dispersing the mob. The irate mob pelted stones on the police personnel and damaged police vehicles. This prompted the police to resort to lathicharge in which around 15 BJP supporters including some women were injured. One received severe injuries on his head.

All the injured were taken to various hospitals for treatment. Police have arrested 18 persons including 5 women activists. There was traffic jam in several parts of South Kolkata due to this.

The trouble began when BJP leaders, including Rajya Sabha member Roopa Ganguly, Rahul Sinha and Ritesh Tiwary lead a procession from Rashbehari More to the CM’s residence in Kalighat via Hazra Road. A scuffle broke out between the BJP supporters and the police when the latter prevented them proceed further. The rally was organised by the state BJP to articulate their protest against the assault of Union Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises minister Babul Supriyo that happened in Asansol on Wednesday. They also demanded the immediate arrest of the accused who led an attack on Supriyo’s convoy

Ganguly alleged that a number of BJP supporters received baton injuries which the police have denied.

Police tried to convince the senior BJP leaders not to move further by breaking the security barricade but the protestors did not pay any heed to their appeal. Instead they attacked the police personnel and pelted stones on them. But the situation was going beyond the control as hundreds of people tried to forcibly move forward.

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee on this issue said that BJP was creating trouble to get political mileage.