'Nabanna Abhijan' turns violent, BJP calls 12-hour Bangla Bandh: Top developments in Kolkata rape-murder case

NEW DELHI: Kolkata and the adjacent Howrah witnessed large-scale violence on Tuesday as protests over the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College turned into pitched battles between demonstrators and the police.
The unrest began when protestors, aiming to march to the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna, were intercepted by police at multiple locations.The ensuing clashes, which lasted nearly four hours, saw protestors pelting stones and glass bottles, leading to injuries on both sides. Senior police officers and women protestors were among those hurt, with 15 personnel from Kolkata Police and 14 from the state police sustaining injuries. Over 200 people were arrested across the state.
Here are the top developments in the case:
Protestors clash with police
Demonstrators faced a strong response from police on Tuesday during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' protest march in Howrah's Santragachi area. The police employed water cannons to disperse the protesters who were attempting to scale the barricades and engaged in confrontations with the officers on duty.
The situation escalated as the demonstrators "dragged away police barricades," prompting the authorities to resort to lathicharge and the use of tear gas shells to regain control. Heavy police had been deployed around the West Bengal state secretariat to maintain order and prevent any untoward incidents.

In response to the police action, the BJP announced a 12-hour general strike in West Bengal on August 28. The strike is a protest against what the BJP described as the "autocratic" crackdown on peaceful demonstrators seeking justice for the deceased doctor.
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar criticised chief minister Mamata Banerjee's government, accusing it of ignoring public outcry and failing to ensure the safety of women in the state. He condemned the police's use of batons, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse the crowd, who were demanding Banerjee's resignation.

The CBI has intensified its probe into the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case, seeking court permission to conduct a polygraph test on Kolkata Police assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Anup Dutta. Dutta is suspected of having extended various favors to the accused, Sanjay Roy, and the CBI aims to uncover whether Roy confided in Dutta about the crime.

To strengthen its investigation, the CBI will consult forensic experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) regarding the DNA and forensic evidence in the case. This step is crucial to confirm whether Sanjay Roy acted alone or if others were involved in the heinous crime. The CBI has been working on the premise that Roy was the sole perpetrator, but the involvement of others can only be ruled out after receiving expert opinions from AIIMS.

The violent protests have further intensified the political battle between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The BJP has accused chief minister Mamata Banerjee of protecting those involved in the crime and demanded her resignation to ensure a fair probe. The party also called for a polygraph test on Banerjee and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goel, alleging a cover-up. On the other hand, the TMC hit back, accusing the BJP of orchestrating chaos and disrupting law and order in the state.
'Stop this murderous game', says West Bengal governor
West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose conveyed his distress regarding the turmoil that engulfed Kolkata's streets in the aftermath of the 'Nabanna Abhijan' protest rally on Tuesday. Bose described the scenes witnessed in the city as a ghastly sight.
"I would say disproportionate force and coercive power were used by the state in dealing with the situation, ignoring the Supreme Court's pronouncements that state power shall not be unleashed against peaceful protesters. This is the ghastly sight that we saw today on the streets of Kolkata. Certainly, this cannot be appreciated in any manner," he said.
Bose emphasised that the current state of affairs is far from normal, and all individuals involved in public life feel compelled to unite and confront the government's irresponsible actions, given the severity of the situation.