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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Several X users shared their alarming experiences of the West Bengal administration silencing those who speak out against the government.
NEW DELHI: In a shocking turn of events, several private citizens on social media have raised alarming concerns about the intimidation tactics employed by the Mamata Banerjee-led government, specifically through the Kolkata Police, to silence ordinary citizens’ response to the horrific Kolkata rape case.
Several X users took to the platform to narrate their frightening ordeals about the West Bengal administration which is silencing those who dare to speak out against the government and concerned authorities.
Author and public speaker, Shefali Vaidya, who had publicly voiced outrage over the tragic death of Moumita Debnath, received a threatening letter from the Kolkata Police. She took to social media platform X to express her deep concern, stating, “I am just a private citizen who is so disgusted by what happened to #Moumita_Debnath that I decided to speak up. But apparently, @KolkataPolice does NOT like independent voices that speak up.”
Request – Please read through and RT for you agree.
So I got this threatening letter from @KolkataPolice for merely asking a few questions and for exercising my right of free speech.
This is a clear case of @MamataOfficial administration silencing the voice of private citizens… pic.twitter.com/SiM6fTORFa
— Shefali Vaidya. 🇮🇳 (@ShefVaidya) August 16, 2024
She further stated that she was forced to delete her X post due to the incessant intimidation. “I am just an ordinary citizen trying to do the right thing. I am not a member of any political party, nor do I have an organisation to back me up… So yes, I will delete the post as @KolkataPolice asked me to do as advised by my lawyer. I am doing so not because I think I was wrong in asking questions, but after what happened to #Moumita_Debnath, I fear for my safety and my life.”
Another citizen @KhabriBossLady replied to her tweet, reporting that she received a similar letter from the Cyber Cell in Kolkata. “They never respond when actual cyber crimes are reported,” the user posted, along with the tagged post from the account of Kolkata Police Cyber Crime.
Even I got a similar letter from Cyber Cell Kolkata, they never respond when actual Cyber Crimes are reported.https://t.co/bk52MxxYDA
— Lady Khabri (@KhabriBossLady) August 16, 2024
In yet another similar incident, a young medical student faced police scrutiny after posting on social media about a Burdwan University student. According to her distressful post, Kolkata police sent officers to her hometown, questioning her credibility and advising her to delete the earlier post. She claimed that the incident has shocked her family and led to their public embarrassment. Despite her attempts to clarify, the police warned her to be cautious, suggesting her career could be at risk. No formal notice or summons was issued, but the experience left the family aghast.
Couldn’t sleep without posting this.
My mom got a call from my neighbour (from my hometown) at around 7.30 pm that police(3-4 uniformed officers) were searching for my home. They were saying Kolkata police had asked them to summon me about some post and they searching for my…— purpleready (@epicnephrin_e) August 15, 2024
These incidents have sparked public outrage, with many seeing it as a blatant act of fascism and intimidation by the state, particularly at a time when the entire country is uniting to seek justice for the trainee doctor who was brutally gang-raped and murdered in the RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata.
Opposition leaders argue that the Kolkata Police, instead of protecting the vulnerable, is being weaponized to silence those who challenge the regime.
As the public outcry grows, the question remains: will the voices of the people be silenced, or will this be a turning point in the fight against what many are now calling a fascist regime?
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