BJP workers clash with cops

What was planned by the BJP as a "peaceful demonstration" on Thursday turned the central business district of Kolkata into a veritable war zone.

With security forces being compelled to use cannons and batons along with tear gas shells on activists who also hurled bricks during a protest march, Lalbazar — where all the action took place — was turned into a fortress since morning.

Twenty-one police personnel including several women officers were injured and were taken to respective hospitals for treatment. Some have been also admitted with head injuries. One police vehicle was torched and several others damaged.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Delhi showed video clippings to journalists in which the jeep of the Officer-in-Charge of Amherst Street police station was set ablaze at Bowbazar by BJP supporters. "They have damaged government properties and set government vehicles on fire. Is this the way to launch a peaceful movement? ," she said.

"BJP and Left are fighting for political position in Bengal. The Left parties have done this sort of politics in both Kerala and West Bengal and now BJP is following their agenda," Banerjee said.

Tension broke out near the Tea Board office on Brabourne Road when BJP supporters started pelting stones at policemen when party supporters led by its state president Dilip Ghosh were restricted from marching ahead towards the city police headquarters at Lalbazar. The situation veered out of control when a petrol bomb was hurled at the police.

Finding no way out, the police started using water cannons to disperse the mop. They also had to resort to lathi-charge and tear gas shells. The situation on Burrabazar came under control with the arrest of Ghosh and party's state general secretary Locket Chatterjee.

The cops were also ready to tackle the mob on BB Ganguly Street and Bentinck Street. The rally led by Kailash Vijayvargiya, national secretary of BJP in charge of Bengal, tried to approach Lalbazar through BB Ganguly Street from Bowbazar side. At this point too, the supporters pelted stones at the police leaving some injured.

There was also a snap demonstration by a handful of BJP supporters in front of Lalbazar.

As a result, the police chased the mob by raising their batons. Though some of the party leaders including Vijayvargiya were arrested, most of the party supporters beat a hasty retreat towards Central Metro station.

On their way back they torched the jeep of the officer-in-charge of Hare Street police station, and damaged some government vehicles including a car of the city police's Special Branch.

Some of the supporters even entered Central Metro station and damaged property inside. The police chased them inside the metro station and rounded up some of the BJP supporters.

Supratim Sarkar, Joint Commissioner of Police (headquarters), said: "The party supporters hurled bombs, bricks and attempted to beat up policemen with bamboo sticks without any provocation."

He further said that when reports last came in, 21 policemen including several women police officers were injured. Around 141 BJP supporters and leaders Dilip, Kailash, Roopa and Locket were arrested. There will be specific cases under non-bailable sections against them. The specific cases will be lodged with Hare Street, Burrabazar, Bowbazar and Jorasanko Police Stations.

Rahul Sinha demanded a judicial enquiry and claimed that police resorted to an unprovoked lathi-charge.