The situation remains tense in West Bengal as Mamata Banerjee’s administration is strongly opposing the “Nabanna Abhijan” rally, organised to protest the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, on 27th August accused the state government of “detaining or arresting” four students, Subhojit Ghosh, Pulokesh Pandit, Goutam Senapati and Pritam Sarkarset to join the protest. He added, “Neither they can be traced nor are they answering their phones. We apprehend that they may have been arrested/detained by the Mamata Police. If something happens to them Mamata Police will be held accountable.”
The following Student Activists who were distributing food to the volunteers, who were arriving at Howrah Station, suddenly went missing after midnight :-
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) August 27, 2024
# Subhojit Ghosh
# Pulokesh Pandit
# Goutam Senapati
# Pritam Sarkar
Neither they can be traced nor are they answering…
Adhikari’s assertions were swiftly refuted by the West Bengal Police, who declared that the students had been arrested for allegedly planning violence during the event and were not missing. It also charged the politician with creating “a false narrative” and added, “The four were planning to orchestrate large-scale violence during the Nabanna Abhijan today, and were involved in a conspiracy of murder and attempted murder. They have been arrested in the Interest of public safety and security, and their families have been informed.”
Soon afterwards, Adhikari responded by announcing that the families of the arrested students had approached the Calcutta High Court in this regard and challenged, “See you in Court Mamata Police.”
The families have approached Hon'ble Calcutta High Court.
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) August 27, 2024
See you in Court Mamata Police… https://t.co/fGDNYobY9P
The ruling Trinamool Congress claimed that the march demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had been organised by political forces and has vehemently opposed it while the Bharatiya Janata Party has accused TMC of stifling dissent. The Kolkata Police have implemented extensive security measures for the protest march to the West Bengal state secretariat which has been arranged to demonstrate against the horrifying rape and death of the 31-year-old trainee doctor.
While the students’ organization “Paschimbanga Chhatro Samaj” insisted that its “Nabanna Abhijan” rally on 27th August would be peaceful and centred on calling for Mamata Banerjee’s resignation along with the arrest of those accountable for the incident, on 26th August Additional Director General of Police (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar announced that the group’s application to hold the march had been denied. He dubbed the agitation as illegal and aimed to trigger unrest in the state.
