Violence Erupts in Kolkata as BJP Workers Clash with Police

Violent clashes broke out on Tuesday between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and police in Kolkata and Howrah during an agitation against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the BJP workers were armed with bombs and guns, while the BJP leadership denied the allegations. The clashes resulted in the arrest of 20 people, including some police officers, and left many injured.

Key Takeaways:

• The BJP workers clashed with police in multiple locations, including Santragachhi in Howrah and Mahatma Gandhi Road, Burrabazar, and Brabourne Road in Kolkata.
• At least 27 police personnel, including officers, were injured in the violence.
• Inspector-in-charge of Howrah's Jagachha police station, Satinath Chattaraj, suffered injury in his right eye during stone pelting by BJP workers.
• Senior BJP leader Meena Devi Purohit also suffered head injuries on Tuesday.
• Cabinet minister and Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim visited her at the hospital.
• Mamata Banerjee visited the SSKM hospital on Wednesday afternoon to meet Debjit Chatterjee, an assistant commissioner of Kolkata Police who suffered multiple fractures in his right arm.
• Abhishek Banerjee, the TMC's national general secretary and nephew of Mamata Banerjee, visited the hospital to meet Chatterjee and praised him for showing restraint.

Statistics:

• 20 people have been arrested for assaulting policemen and setting a police vehicle on fire during the BJP's march to Nabanna, the state secretariat.
• 27 police personnel, including officers, were injured in the violence.
• 3 police officers are currently hospitalized, including Debjit Chatterjee, Sarafraz Ahmed, and Inspector-in-charge of Howrah's Jagachha police station, Satinath Chattaraj.

Sources:

• Hindustan Times, "Violence erupts in Kolkata as BJP workers clash with police" (no publication date)
• HT Digital Content Services with permission