Nabanna March

Police on Monday said they are deploying more personnel on the streets to counter the nabanna march by the state Congress on Tuesday.

The Left Front-backed peasants organization is expected to embark on their nabanna march on Thursday, when vice-president Hamid Ansari is slated for arrival in the city on a two-day visit.

A 31-year old Left Front worker, who was injured in the police crackdown on demonstrators during the LF-Congress march to Nabanna last Thursday, died at a city health facility early on Monday.

The Bengal government warned the Supreme Court of expected violent protests during an Aug 27 nabanna march, involving acid bombs and guns. The Supreme Court affirmed the state's right to manage public order but stressed non-interference with peaceful protests. The state plans to act against those causing unrest, emphasizing misinformation spread via social media.

Several private schools in the city and Howrah declared a holiday on Tuesday morning and some rescheduled their exams, citing waterlogging on some stretches due to heavy rain the night before. Many colleges, too, suspended classes, and those remaining open saw low attendance.

The Bengal government took robust measures to prevent the nabanna march organized by Chhatra Samaj, calling it illegal due to potential unrest. Despite state pressure, the organization, with links to ABVP and RSS, intended to proceed. Police denied permission citing UGC-NET exams and enforced restrictions. Security around Nabanna and on Kolkata's streets was intensified to manage potential disruptions.

The Kolkata Police issued a traffic advisory and rerouted traffic on several key routes due to the nabanna march on Tuesday. Vehicles from Kolaghat and Dankuni side were advised to use Nibedita Setu instead of the 2nd Hooghly Bridge. Movement restrictions were imposed on routes like Kona Expressway, Andul Road, and GT Road to manage vehicular flow.

When the cops came knocking on Deep Sarkar's door at 10.30pm on Wednesday, his father lied that his son was not home. On Tuesday, the world had watched live on TV the 27-year-old - clad in a saffron T-shirt and chanting slogans - setting fire to a police vehicle on Rabindra Sarani during BJP's foiled nabanna march.

To enhance officer safety, Kolkata police have required protective wire mesh on vehicles during challenging law-and-order duties, effective until February 28, 2025. This decision follows injuries sustained by officers during the nabanna march. Concurrently, restrictions on carrying weapons have been applied to curb violence.

The police could have opened fire on the hooligans who clashed with them and engaged in wanton acts of violence, including arson, at Tuesday's BJP rally but they restrained themselves and attempted to peacefully control the situation as firing "isn't desirable", chief minister Mamata Banerjee said a day after the saffron party's "nabanna march" shut down large swathes of Kolkata and Howrah for over five hours.

An ACP of Kolkata Police, who ended up with severe hand and face injuries, was among the 27 cops injured in Kolkata during BJP's nabanna march on Tuesday afternoon.

Members of the BJP’s newly constituted state committee fanned out to various Bengal districts on Friday to do the spadework for the party’s Nabanna Abhiyan next month, ahead of elections to five municipal corporations on January 22.

The Bengal BJP is looking to unite opposition parties in the state against the Mamata Banerjee government, on the same lines as the efforts being made against the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

During a nabanna march commemorating the first anniversary of her daughter's death, the RG Kar victim's parents were injured in a clash between police and protesters. The victim's mother claimed a head injury and broken bangle due to police action, while authorities deny any knowledge of the incident and promise investigation.

BJP’s march did not reach Nabbana on Tuesday, but party workers sent out signals to leaders that they were not willing to give Trinamool a walkover in the coming rural polls.

An unplanned foray by BJP workers towards Lalbazar ended in scuffles and fisticuffs between cops and about a hundred BJP workers; the burning of the police vehicle happened here and it was followed by several minutes of mayhem in which several businesses and properties were

Thousands of BJP supporters clashed with more than 6,500 cops, spreading terror and shutting down large swathes of Kolkata and Howrah for over five hours on Tuesday afternoon in an unsuccessful attempt to get close to the state secretariat of Nabanna.

Call it the sign of times. CPM leaders of Alimuddin Street are now using a website — www.isupportcause.com (a free social media platform that one can use to start a campaign on a wide range of issues) — to draw the young to the Left Front’s nabanna march on May 22.

The Calcutta High Court will hear a fresh plea against the arrest of BJP workers on Monday.

The Bengal BJP has deferred its Nabanna Aviyan by six days to September 13. Party leaders took the decision at a meeting on Monday keeping in view the upcoming Karam festival in Jangalmahal.

Calcutta high court declined to impose a prohibitory order on the nabanna march planned by the Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj on Aug 27. The court recognized the right to peaceful protest and directed the organizers to clarify their stance. Concerns about public order and the UGC-NET exam on the same day were noted.