West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is facing growing public outrage following the tragic rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. In response to mounting pressure, Banerjee has deployed 6,000 security personnel outside the state Secretariat, Nabanna, ahead of a major protest march planned by the Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj.
The protest, known as ‘Nabanna Abhiyan,’ is set to draw significant attention as Kolkata Police and Howrah City Police fortify the area with a three-tier security arrangement. The area is now surrounded by 19 barricades, including five made of aluminium.
To manage the potential for unrest, various forces, including the Combat Force, Heavy Radio Flying Squad (HRFS), Rapid Action Force (RAF), Quick Reaction Team (QRT), and water cannons, have been deployed. An Additional Commissioner of Police is overseeing law and order, with Joint Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners assigned to key locations such as Howrah Bridge, Hastings, and Hooghly Bridge.
Additional security forces from neighboring districts have been brought to Kolkata to reinforce the presence around critical areas including Hastings, Shibpur Road, Howrah Bridge, and Howrah Maidan.
The Kolkata Police have reached out to the organizers of ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ to gather details about the expected number of participants, leaders, and the planned route of the protest. However, as of now, no response has been received from the student organization.
