The West Bengal police have tightened security around the West Bengal state secretariat “Nabanna” in the wake of the Nabanna Abhijan Rally called for Tuesday (August 27, 2024) to protest the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case.
Water cannons, vajra vehicles and Riot Control Force were deployed ahead of the demonstration while containers were placed to block the roads.
On Monday (August 26, 2024), referring to it as an attempt to incite widespread unrest in Kolkata, The West Bengal Police termed “illegal” the Nabanna Abhijan Rally towards Nabanna or State Secretariat.
‘Nabanna Abhijan Rally’ was organized by Paschim Banga Chatra Samaj and other organizations which aimed at protesting against a recent rape and murder incident that occurred on a female trainee doctor in Kolkata. Also, Traffic advisory has been issued by Kolkata Police due to Nabanna Abhiyan along with diversions for several routes connecting the city to different parts of India.
For the second Hooghly Bridge, Nibra is a place where vehicles coming from Kolaghat side along NH 16 can go through if they want to go Kolkata while for other vehicle that have come from Dankuni to Khidirpur and were heading for 2nd Hooghly Bridge could turn left towards the Nibedita Setu.
From Howrah to Nibeda Setu, there are three bridges available for those cars whose destination is in Kolkata. On the other hand, people headed to Howrah Station use G.T. Road near Mallick Fatak via Kona Expressway for their journey back to Kolkata so as not to go around Howrah Bridge or 2nd Hoogly Bridge.
Between Andul and Lakshmi, the road between Alampur and GT Road is closed; also, no vehicle will be allowed through Mandirtala and Kazipara/Second Hoogly Bridge nor Foreshore Road between Kazipara and Ramkrishnapur Crossing.
Restrictions are also applied in Howrah Railway Station to Grand Foreshore Road, H.M Bose Road/ RB Setu/ HIT Bridge to Howrah Bridge Kolkata side, HIT Bridge to RB Setu and M.B Road to N.S Road- Mallick Fatak.
The Additional Commissioner of Police Kolkata, Supratim Sarkar, on Monday (August 26, 2024), communicated that they denied a request by ‘Paschimbanga Chhatro Samaj’ for a protest called the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ on August 27.
He added that police refused them because they did not apply properly and gave too little information.
According to Supratim Sarkar, the Additional Commissioner of Police Kolkata, “They made an announcement via social media and newspapers that they are going carry out a program called Nabanna Abhijan on 27th August but no permission was sought for it which is mandatory as per High Court directives.”
A brutal rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor in the premises of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital has caused a stir throughout India. The incident sent shockwaves across the nation and since then there have been numerous demonstrations demanding justice for her. The seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata saw the death of a trainee doctor on August 9.
