As many as 170 people, including 69 police personnel, were injured during the Left Front’s “March to Nabanna” here on Monday.
Several areas in Kolkata and Howrah district turned into battlefields as Left activists used sticks and bamboo poles to break barricades and rained bricks and stones on the police. As the police resorted to tear gas, water shells and lathicharge, some of the Left cadres broke the tiles on the sidewalk and hurled them at the police.
The police also beat up journalists and protesters, including women and the elderly. Senior CPI(M) leader and former Minister Kanti Ganguly was injured and had to be hospitalised.
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Going strong
The agitators, however, confronted the police again, welding red flags and shouting “Inquilab Zindabad”. State Secretary and Surjya Kanta Mishra was also present. The march, organised by 11 Left peasant bodies, was organised to press for their 18-point charter of demands, including measures to stop farmers' distress and rising unemployment in the State. Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police said they had arrested 182 people.
“We have arrested 182 people, including 85 women,” said Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Headquarters) Supratim Sarkar.
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Mr. Sarkar added that action would be taken against the officers who beat up journalists.
‘Attack condemnable’
“The attacks on media personnel is unfortunate and condemnable,” he said.
The Left Front leadership said the attack on journalists showed that the State government did not believe in democracy.
“The administration does not want such incidents to be reported in the media. They are ruining the basics of a democratic structure,” said Left Front Chairperson Biman Bose.