Violent protests erupted near Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata’s Eastern Metropolitan Bypass as thousands of sports lovers raised slogans, demanding justice for the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata’s R. G. Kar Hospital, on Sunday.
They also questioned the abandonment of the Durand Cup match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant, which was scheduled on August 18.
Arch rivals in the Kolkata Maidan circuit, supporters of East Bengal and Mohun Bagan came together with their flags and jerseys to protest against the crime and engaged in scuffle with the police.
Supporters of football clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan take part in a protest march near Salt Lake stadium, in Kolkata. | Photo Credit: PTI
Crowds started swelling at about 4 pm despite the decision of the organisers to cancel the match and the protesters clashed with the police, which was deployed in large numbers in front of the stadium.
Police initially asked the protesters to clear the arterial road and later, resorted to baton-charge to disperse the crowd.
Several people, including supporters of both clubs, were detained by the police at the protest site. Among those detained was the president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kalyan Chaubey.
Raising slogans of “ We want Justice”, the protesters regrouped in the area after some time. The situation continued to remain tense till the evening with protesters and police face to face.
Several protesters said that if so many police could be deployed, what was the reason to suspend the derby match?
The decision to “abandon” the concluding Durand Cup Group A match was taken a day on Saturday with reports that the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, responsible for managing the security arrangements at the Salt Lake Stadium, failed to commit adequate forces for the match.
RELATED: Bangal Ghotir ektai shawr, justice for RG Kar: Rivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan unite for justice in RG Kar case
A usual ‘Derby’ sees a crowd of about 60,000 people.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Police issued prohibitory orders around Salt Lake Stadium from 4 pm to midnight on the pavements of the eastern side of the E. M. Bypass from Narkeldanga Main Road to Beleghata crossing, Narkeldanga Main Road and E. M. Bypass crossing among others.
In the early hours of Sunday, it had imposed Section 163 of BNSS (Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 – prevention of unlawful assembly) around R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital for seven days with effect from August 18.
The orders were also issued in J. K. Mitra Road, Shyambazar five-point crossing, Belgachia Road and others in the jurisdiction of Shyampukur, Ultadanga and Tala Police Stations.
Protests were held in different parts of the city and other parts of West Bengal over the gruesome crime. Actors from the Bengali film industry brought out a rally from Technician’s Studio in South Kolkata.
Comments
SHARE