Following Monday’s “hooliganism” in the Bhangar division, which erupted during protests demanding the withdrawal of the Waqf Amendment Act, Kolkata Police said they have made a total of nine arrests. According to police sources, eight individuals were arrested from Uttar Kashipore, and one was arrested from Chandaneswar. Authorities have stated that the “search is on to arrest others.”
“So far, nine have been arrested, raids are on, no one involved will be spared,” said a senior Kolkata Police official.
The arrests followed an overnight search operation. Initially, three individuals were arrested during the night, with the remaining six being taken into custody “after conducting a search late at night.”
The arrested individuals face “multiple charges including vandalism of government property, spreading violence, and obstructing police work,” police said. The aftermath of Monday’s riots left Bhangar in a state of disarray on Tuesday, with “burnt police vans and bikes scattered around.” Efforts to clear the debris have commenced.
An anti-Waqf Act amendment rally had been organized by the ISF at Ramlila Maidan in Sealdah on Monday. As ISF workers and supporters were en route to join the rally called by MLA Naushad Siddiqui, their procession was halted on Bhangar’s Basanti Highway, leading to “turmoil.”
When the ISF workers tried to break the police barricade and move forward, police stopped them. When the crowd retaliated, police resorted to lathi-charge. An ISF worker’s head was allegedly injured, prompting ISF workers to stage a protest by sitting on the Basanti Highway.
It is alleged that the mob holding the national flag first broke the CCTV in the area. Then they attacked the police. Reportedly, five uniformed personnel were injured. The violence included allegedly overturning a prison van and setting five bikes on fire.
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In the wake of recent violence in the state like in Murshidabad, police said, “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and top leaders and Ministers have repeatedly been giving messages to maintain peace. They have also warned that no one will be spared if violence is spread.”
