Workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) youth wing clashed in Kolkata on Wednesday during a protest march organized by the Mamata Banerjee-led party over the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur. Police personnel resorted to a mild baton charge to control the situation.
Rally Route and Court Permission
The rally, which was organized by TMC youth workers after obtaining permission from the Calcutta High Court, started from Ballygunge Phari in southern Kolkata. However, BJP workers repeatedly obstructed the march along Hazra Road, raising slogans calling the TMC protesters “thieves” and attempting to set up human barricades.
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday set aside the Kolkata Police communication that had denied permission for the rally. The court granted permission to the TMC to hold the event but imposed strict conditions. It modified the proposed route, changing the termination point from Landsdown Market on Sarat Bose Road to Hazra Crossing to minimize public inconvenience. The court also changed the rally timing from the proposed 3 pm to 6 pm slot to 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, forbade the use of loudspeakers, and directed the use of handheld microphones instead. Additionally, the court ordered that one flank of the rally route remain open for vehicular traffic and mandated that the crowd, which should not exceed 1,000 participants, disperse once the rally reaches its destination.
Clashes and Allegations
During the rally, agitated workers from both sides engaged in fist fights. Security forces intervened with a mild baton charge to bring the situation under control. BJP workers alleged that the TMC had “no right” to protest the Baruipur incident, claiming that the former Mamata Banerjee government “shielded criminals perpetrating crimes against women” and often trivialized such incidents as “minor.” TMC protesters refuted these allegations.
TMC leaders accompanying the rally appealed to party supporters to maintain peace and discipline, accusing the BJP of attempting to disrupt the programme. Meanwhile, BJP leaders alleged that their supporters were provoked by TMC youth wing workers.
Impact on Traffic and Security
Vehicular movement in several parts of south Kolkata was affected due to the rally. Authorities had issued advisories in advance, urging people to avoid the affected routes. A police officer stated that the situation remained tense but under control as the rally progressed towards Hazra under tight security.
Update on Accused
In a related development, Prabhas Mondal, one of the prime accused in the rape and murder of the Baruipur minor, was killed in an alleged encounter early on Wednesday. Police said he “snatched a firearm from a policeman and tried to escape from custody” during a crime scene reconstruction exercise. Another absconding accused, Kabir Molla, was arrested on Wednesday, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to four. Earlier, Anand Sardar and Dibakar Sardar had been booked.
