Students firm on March to Nabanna, police call it 'illegal' and 'potentially disruptive'
Amid claims by the Trinamool Congress and West Bengal Police of potential disruptions, student organisation Chhatra Samaj insisted that its August 27 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally will be peaceful and focused on demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the arrest of those responsible for the alleged rape-murder of a doctor in RG Kar hospital.
PTI
West Bengal: March to state secretariat won't inconvenience UGC-NET candidates, claims Chatra Samaj
The march to state secretariat Nabanna on Tuesday would not inconvenience candidates of UGC-NET as the examination would be held in two shifts, organiser Chatra Samaj claimed.
The UGC-NET, which is used to determine eligibility for appointment as assistant professors in colleges and universities as well as junior research fellowship (JRF), will be held in two sessions -- from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and from 3 pm to 6 pm.
Chatra Samaj spokesperson Sayan Lahiri said, "Our non-violent democratic protest will not affect the candidates. Since the exams will be held in two sessions, the candidates will hopefully not face any difficulty if they appear in the first session."
-PTI
BJP leader Dilip Ghosh on TMC leader Kunal Ghosh's 'BJP, CPM and Congress, Left are all coming together to create anarchy in Bengal' remark
'Dead bodies must fall' for 'political momentum': TMC warns of BJP conspiracy ahead of 'Nabanna Abhijan'
Mamata using police to quell protest, claims BJP, after Kolkata cops dub today's protest march 'illegal'
Security deployed ahead of the protest march
From barricades to water cannons -- read about the security arrangements here.
Visuals from outside Nabanna
'Bengal isn't Bangladesh, Mamata not Hasina,' Mahua Moitra slams today's protest
"The filth being propagated in name of a citizen's movement is Bengal's shame. Calls to rape a minor child? Some lout who is a RSS worker who has a sexual harassment case from 2014 is now fronting a "student's protest"? Bengalis can see through this game to try & provoke police tomorrow & then continue the chaos. Sorry WB is NOT Bangladesh & Mamata Banerjee is NOT Hasina. Not so easy to unsettle a people's government. Enough is Enough.", TMC MP Mahua Moitra said.
Yes, I am a member of the RSS: Shubhankar Halder, one of the organisers of today's 'Nabanna Abhijan'
Halder is among the organisers of today's protest that seeks CM Mamata Banerjee's resignation as well as justice for the R G Kar incident.
CPI-M has distanced itself from the protest noting it is backed by a RSS-body.
"Yes, I am a member of the RSS, the biggest organisation in the world. I shall stay so for the rest of my life," The Telegraph reported him say.
Definitely, there is concern over the safety of nurses because 90 per cent of them are women: Trained Nurse's Association of India (TNAI) President
'Democracy can have silent majority, not silenced majority,' Bengal Governor to TMC on today's protest
"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," the Governor said.
Santragachi streets heavily barricaded ahead of protest march today
West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights takes suo motu cognisance of rape threat to Abhishek Banerjee's daughter
Banerjee, Mamata's nephew, is the de-facto number 2 of the TMC. A video on social media showed one of the demonstrations over the R G Kar where a person announced a Rs 10 crore award for anyone who raped the minor daughter of the TMC leader.
BJP party workers have been detained from Panagarh and Durgapur railway stations by police
They were trying to board Coalfield Express and Mumbai Mail to reach Howrah (ABP)
Heavy police deployment at Khidirpur Bridge ahead of 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally
Security heightened at St Georges Gate Road at Hastings in Kolkata
'Did they think there'd be no cops, BJP could roam around in Nabanna?' TMC's Kunal Ghosh slams protest
In his post in Bengali, on X, Ghosh added that attention was being diverted from the CBI probe into the matter by the BJP through means of this protest.
Abhishek Banerjee flags rapes in India, ahead of protest march over R G Kar case
In Pics | Security for today's protest march to Nabanna
Security for Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj's march
Security for Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj's march
Security for Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj's march
Security for Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj's march
Barricades being reinforced ahead of protest
Kolkata police reportedly carrying out drone surveillance as well
Families of 4 students who Kolkata police say have been arrested have approached High Court: BJP's Suvendu Adhikari
TMC flags rapes in Maharashtra as protesters set sights on Nabanna
R G Kar gradually coming back to normal: Vice Principal
Barricades on Howrah Bridge being welded together as protesters set sights on Nabanna
Protesters climb atop barricades, clash with cops as they march towards Nabanna
Cops resort to lathicharge, tear gas, water cannons as protesters drag away barricades
Cops also used water cannons to disperse protesters
Cops use tear gas shells to disperse protesters
Two weeks since CBI took charge, no progress, says TMC's Nilanjan Das
Protests continue on Howrah Bridge as cops spring into action
Common man tired...we have only one demand that Mamata resign: Protester on 'Nabanna Abhijan'
ED files money laundering case to probe 'financial irregularities' at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital: Officials
Why was bike used by prime accused Sanjoy Roy registered in name of commissioner? Kolkata police clarify
Protesters have 'goon like' appearance, claims TMC's Saayoni Ghosh
CBI should do a polygraph test of Mamata Banerjee and the Police Commissioner: BJP's Gaurav Bhatia
Police detain protesters from Howrah Bridge
Protesters sit on Kolkata's MG Road, raise slogans
Protests continue
Cops targetted with bricks by protesters, one police personnel injured
The incident took place in Howrah, ABP Ananda reported.
'Khela hobe' says TMC's Nilanjan Das as cops crack down on Nabanna march
Constitution being strangled...dictator Mamata venting her anger: BJP
We will count number of arrests later: Kolkata Police DC (Central) Indrani Mukherjee
Visuals from Fort William, Kolkata
Protesters pelt stones as agitation continues near Fort William, Kolkata
Man waving national flag amidst blazing water canon ultimate symbol of defiance against Mamata govt: BJP's Amit Malviya
'Should we label stone pelting from BJP goons as protests?' TMC's Kunal Ghosh slams media
BJP goons attacked, injured cops, broke barricades, says TMC's Kunal Ghosh
BJP calls 12-hour West Bengal bandh on August 28: State Party president Sukanta Majumdar
'Crime to speak for women's safety in Didi's West Bengal': J P Nadda
'Don't understand why excessive arrangements made to prevent protests': Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
TMC calls 'Nabanna Abhiyan' a 'fatal attack on Bengal'
Bengal govt will ensure normal life is not affected by BJP's 12-hour general strike on Wed: Official
Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Tuesday urged people not to participate in BJP's 12-hour general strike on August 28, asserting that the administration will ensure normal life is not affected due to the bandh.
The BJP has called for a 6 am-to-6 pm general strike in West Bengal to protest against the police action on those who took part in the march to state secretariat 'Nabbana' on Tuesday.
"The government will not allow any bandh on Wednesday. We urge people not to participate in it. All steps shall be taken to ensure that normal life is unaffected," said Alapan Bandopadhyay, the chief advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
He said transport services will remain operational, and shops, marketplaces and other business establishments have been asked to remain open.
Bandopadhyay also urged state government employees to attend office.
The police used batons, tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters attempting to reach 'Nabanna' to demand the resignation of the CM over the rape-murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
-PTI
If BJP unleashes goons, we will retaliate with full force, warns TMC's Nilanjan Das
BJP wants to 'grab CM's chair without winning polls': TMC MP Mahua Moitra
Intention of strike called by BJP is to disrupt normal life, says Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Chief Advisor to Mamata Banerjee
CBI seeks court permission to conduct polygraph test on Kolkata Police ASI Anup Dutta in Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Officials
CBI will seek opinion of AIIMS on DNA, forensic evidence in Kolkata doctor rape-murder case
New Delhi: The CBI will consult experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on the DNA and forensic reports related to the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College, officials said Tuesday.
In order to build a watertight case, the CBI will send the reports to AIIMS to seek their opinion in the case, they said.
The reports will also help the agency to ascertain if Sanjay Roy was the only accused who committed the crime or there were others involved, they said.
The CBI has filed an application before a Kolkata court seeking permission for polygraph test of Kolkata Police ASI Anup Dutta.
The agency is investigating if Dutta knew Roy and extended any help to the accused after the crime, the officials said.
The CBI had already questioned Dutta in connection with the case, they said.
So far the agency is working on the leads that Roy was the only accused in the crime but involvement of others will only be ruled out after receiving the opinion of AIIMS experts, the officials said.
The polygraph test on former principal of the medical college Sandip Ghosh continued for the second day Tuesday. He underwent layered voice test on Saturday which was followed by polygraph test on Monday. The test on Monday could not be completed and resumed on Tuesday.
Layered voice analysis is a new deception detection test (DDT) in forensic arsenal used to detect the speaker's reaction to a lie. It does not identify a lie.
The technology identified stress, cognitive processes, and emotional cues in different properties of the voice.
A polygraph test, also a DDT, can help in assessing inaccuracies in statements of suspects and witnesses. By monitoring their psychological responses - heart rate, breathing patterns, sweating and blood pressure - investigators can determine if there are discrepancies in their response.
However, these are not admissible evidence during the trial and can only be used to get further leads in a case.
The alleged rape and killing of the junior doctor in a seminar hall of the hospital has sparked widespread protests.
The medic's body with severe injury marks was found inside the seminar hall of the hospital's chest department in the morning of August 9 by a doctor who was on round.
Kolkata Police arrested Roy on August 10 based on CCTV footage in which he was seen entering the seminar hall at 4.03 AM on August 9 when the crime was allegedly committed.
Based on CCTV footage, Roy was put through extensive interrogation and the police had also noticed "recent injuries" on his left cheek, abrasion in left hand between his left and ring finger, abrasion over the back of left thigh among others showing signs of struggle.
His biological samples like urethral swab and smear, semen, hair, nail clippings and nail scraping were collected during the medico-legal examination, they said.
On August 13, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the probe from the Kolkata Police to the CBI, which started its investigation on August 14.
The CBI took over all the forensic evidence from Kolkata Police and also subjected Roy, Ghosh, four doctors who were on duty with the victim, and a civic volunteer to polygraph tests to get further leads about the crime.
The initial reports from CFSL are being analysed and corroborated with evidence to get further direction to the probe, the officials said.
-PTI
Kolkata Police ASI Anup Dutta brought to CBI office in Kolkata
Where was Mamata's police when '7,000 hooligans attacked R G Kar Hospital' on August 14? asks BJP leader Agnimitra Paul
Protesters tried to 'break barricades, attack police', 'one arrested': TMC's Kunal Ghosh
'In support of students protesting in Nabanna Abhijan rally': Kolkata rape-murder victim's father
Violence sullies 'Nabanna Abhijan'; more than 200 arrested
Kolkata: Large-scale violence on the streets of Kolkata and adjacent Howrah marred the cries for justice for the RG Kr hospital victim on Tuesday afternoon after protestors, aiming to reach the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna, fought pitched battles with the police at multiple stoppage points.
The violence, which lasted for nearly four hours, led to several injuries on both sides with senior police officers and women protestors among those who were hurt.
More than 200 people were arrested from across the state, police said.
Protestors took to incessant pelting of stones and glass bottles on the police at several spots where their progress was stopped. Fifteen personnel of the Kolkata Police and 14 from the state police force were injured in the clashes, police said.
Police resorted to large-scale lathi-charge, unleashed water cannons and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the aggressive crowd who poured in from multiple converging points at Nabanna.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari alleged that over 160 protestors, including 17 women, suffered injuries in the police action.
Condemning the police action on protestors, president of BJP's Bengal unit Sukanta Majumdar called a 12-hour Bangla bandh on Wednesday.
State's Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari urged Governor CV Ananda Bose to "impose President's Rule" in the state. The 'Nabanna Abhijan' call was given by an unregistered student body 'Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj' and a dissident state government employees' platform 'Sangrami Joutha Mancha' who demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the alleged rape-murder of a medic at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
The West Bengal government urged people not to respond to BJP's 6 am-6 pm general strike.
Shortly afterwards, the state issued a notification stating that all government offices would remain open and all employees, except those facing exigencies or are on leave, would have to report for duty on August 28 or face show-cause for their unauthorised absence.
The top brass of Bengal police cited multiple judgments of various high courts which termed bandhs called by political parties "illegal".
Stating that "there would be no bandh in Bengal tomorrow", TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh claimed the call for the general strike was given because the chaos on the streets unmasked the BJP and exposed its conspiracy to create political conspiracy in the state.
ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar confirmed that 25 people were arrested from across the state on Monday night prior to the secretariat rally as a preventive measure.
"We have credible proof that these miscreants were planning to use firearms and bombs in the rally. The situation could have turned much worse if these preventive arrests were not made," Sarkar said. According to Kolkata Police sources, 126 members and supporters of Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj were arrested on Tuesday. Thirty-three out of them were women.
Both police and the government brass maintained that the security forces "exercised extreme restraint and did not fall prey to the provocations from the agitators".
"The police limited themselves in taking only those actions that were necessary in the wake of the aggressions displayed by the protestors," ADG (Law and Order) Manoj Verma told reporters at Nabanna.
"Why are we being beaten up by the police? We did not break any law. We are holding a peaceful rally to demand justice for the deceased doctor. The chief minister should take responsibility and resign," said a woman protester. Later in the day, police again used teargas and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse BJP leaders and supporters when they marched towards Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar demanding the release of students arrested during the Nabanna Abhijan rally.
The police action began after BJP supporters attempted to breach police barricades to enter Lalbazar.
Several party leaders, including state president Sukanta Majumdar, fell ill during the commotion and scuffle and were removed from the spot by the police. The state BJP made a helpline number available for those requiring medical and legal assistance in the aftermath of Tuesday's police action on protestors.
Pitched battles between the police and protestors were fought at Hastings, Mahatma Gandhi Road and the Strand Road entry point to the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata as well as on Foreshore Road, Howrah Maidan, Kona Expressway and at the Santragachhi station complex in Howrah.
Multiple police vehicles were vandalised and a police two wheeler was torched by the agitators near the Babughat river front.
A section of protestors even managed to reach within stone's throw distance of Nabanna breaching police barricades en route and stood face to face with armed police chanting slogans for justice. Police allegedly used force to disperse the gathering. "The police foiled their plot to get a body. That is why the BJP called a strike tomorrow to cripple Bengal's booming economy ahead of the Durga Puja festival," senior minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said.
-PTI