NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Kolkata Police, demanding a report on the alleged excessive force used against protesters during the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ protest on August 27.
The protest was organised to demand justice for a 31-year-old trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered on August 9 at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The demonstrators also called for the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The NHRC, in its notice to the Kolkata Police Commissioner, has given a 14-day deadline for the submission of an “action taken” report, expressing serious concern over the reported “barbaric” and “brutal” assault on the protesters.
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On August 27, large-scale violence erupted in Kolkata and adjacent Howrah as protesters, led by the unregistered student body ‘Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj’ and the dissident state government employees’ platform ‘Sangrami Joutha Mancha,’ clashed with the police during their march towards the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna.
The march, which was initially intended to be a peaceful demonstration, quickly devolved into chaos as protesters and police forces engaged in violent confrontations at multiple points along the route.
The violence, which persisted for nearly four hours, resulted in several injuries on both sides, including injuries to senior police officers and women protesters.
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In response to the aggressive crowd, the police lathi-charged the crowd, deployed water cannons, and burst tear gas shells in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators. Over 200 people were arrested across the state following the protests.
The NHRC’s notice highlights the ongoing tension between public demonstration rights and law enforcement practices in West Bengal, raising questions about the state’s handling of civil unrest and the balance between maintaining order and respecting human rights.