Protests Erupt in Jadavpur as Left Leaders Detained During Hawker Demolition Drive

Kolkata witnessed significant unrest on Sunday as several protesters, including prominent leaders from the Left parties, were detained during a demonstration against a demolition operation near Jadavpur railway station. The demolition was initiated by railway authorities, who employed bulldozers to clear what they claimed were illegal structures along Jadavpur Station Road, according to reports from local news outlets.

The protest, which drew support from various factions, including Congress leaders, intensified as demonstrators gathered to oppose the demolition. Previous attempts to carry out similar operations had been met with resistance, prompting authorities to withdraw bulldozers after protesters voiced their dissent loudly.

On this occasion, the situation escalated as some protesters lay in front of the bulldozers while others climbed atop the machinery in a bid to halt the demolitions. The police response was swift, involving the deployment of a large contingent from local law enforcement, central forces, and the Rapid Action Force, to manage the crowd. As tensions rose, police resorted to lathi-charge tactics to disperse the gathering, resulting in multiple detentions, including that of Srijan Bhattacharyya, a leader from the Students’ Federation of India (SFI).

The Left and Congress leaders have condemned the demolition drive, arguing that it was conducted without adequate rehabilitation plans for those affected, thus breaching court directives. They highlighted the plight of the hawkers who rely on these makeshift structures for their livelihoods. Following the police action, SFI supporters organized a sit-in protest near Jadavpur University to express their dissent against the government’s actions.

This demolition drive marks a continued effort by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to clear urban encroachments, a policy approach that has faced criticism from various quarters for neglecting the rights and welfare of marginalized communities. As the situation develops, local leaders are calling for a more humane and just approach to urban development that considers the voices of all stakeholders involved.

Source: scroll.in