Four Arrested Ahead of Nabanna March, Security Tightened Near Mamata Banerjee's Residence
Nabanna Abhijan Protest: Security measures have been heightened around Nabanna, the Bengal Secretariat, in anticipation of a protest march organized by students demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Kolkata has transformed into a fortified zone as the newly formed student group, Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj, prepares to march to the state secretariat, calling for Mamata Banerjee's resignation over the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case. More than 6,000 Kolkata Police officers have been deployed throughout the city, with additional security around Banerjee's Kalighat residence.
Four individuals have been arrested for allegedly plotting "large-scale violence" during the Nabanna Abhijan, according to a post by Kolkata Police on X.
A three-tier security cordon has been established around Nabanna. Police report uncovering evidence of a conspiracy aimed at inciting chaos and unrest during the protest. Barricades have been set up at 19 strategic locations along the routes to the state secretariat, which houses the offices of the Chief Minister and senior ministers.
Nabanna Abhijan: Latest Updates
- Ahead of the march, Kolkata Police arrested four students accused of planning violence and conspiring to commit murder and attempted murder. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari had earlier stated that the four student activists went missing after midnight.
- Iron and aluminum barricades have been installed at over 20 locations near the state secretariat, and oil has been applied to make them slippery and difficult for protesters to scale.
- More than 6,000 police officers, along with additional forces from various districts, including Heavy Radio Flying Squads (HRFS), Rapid Action Force (RAF), and Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), have been deployed along the routes to Nabanna in Howrah.
- Drones and robocops are monitoring the protestors' movements, with water cannons, tear gas shells, and anti-riot VAJRA vehicles on standby.
- West Bengal Police has declared the protest march "illegal," citing the lack of a request for permission to march toward Nabanna.
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- The protest is being led by Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj, an unregistered student organization demanding justice for the 31-year-old trainee doctor, capital punishment for the accused, and Mamata Banerjee's resignation.