Large-scale violence erupted during the Left Front’s “March to Nabanna” here on Monday, leaving hundreds injured and throwing life in large parts of central Kolkata out of gear.
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While the injured included Left Front supporters, over a dozen journalists were also beaten up by the police.
Almost all roads leading to Nabanna, the State Secretariat, saw pitched battles between the Left Front supporters and the heavily armed police.
While Left Front activists used sticks and bamboo poles to break guard walls and barricades and rained bricks and stones on police and the Rapid Action Force the security personnel resorted to the use of tear gas shells, water cannons and massive baton charge.
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The police beat up women and elderly protesters, chased journalists and thrashed them though they showed valid identity proofs.
The Left Front had given the call for the march, organised by 11 Left peasant bodies several weeks ago to press their 18-point charter of demands including measures to end farmers’ distress and rising unemployment in the State.
Senior CPI(M) leader and former Minister Kanti Ganguly suffered injuries in the police action and was hospitalised.
According to police, 170 persons including 69 police personnel were injured. “We have arrested 182 persons so far. Among them 85 are women,” Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Headquarters) Supratim Sarkar said.