KOLKATA (AFP) – Thousands of protesters clashed in India’s eastern city of Kolkata yesterday, where demonstrations seeking justice for a murdered doctor spiralled into violent street skirmishes between political rivals.
The discovery of the 31-year-old doctor’s bloodied body at a state-run hospital in Kolkata on August 9 stoked nationwide anger at the chronic issue of violence against women.
That sparked strikes by medics and rallies backed by thousands of ordinary citizens across India, although many doctors have since returned to work.
But repeated protests in West Bengal state capital Kolkata have transformed into clashes between the state’s ruling All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP is the party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and holds power nationally, but sits in opposition in West Bengal.
“We want justice,” BJP supporters chanted, referring to the murdered doctor, then demanding the resignation of AITMC leader Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister.
“Go back! Go back!” AITMC supporters shouted in return.
On Tuesday, police clashed with protesters, firing tear gas canisters and water cannons, and arresting at least 245 people. That prompted BJP supporters yesterday to launch a day-long shutdown of Kolkata, with skirmishes against AITMC supporters in the morning.
Protesters erected barricades to close roads and railway lines, with police reporting clashes between rival workers across the city and in adjoining districts.
Arjun Singh, a former BJP lawmaker, alleged his party loyalists were attacked by supporters of Banerjee’s AITMC, and two people were injured.
AITMC “activists blocked the roads to prevent BJP supporters from marching”, Singh told AFP.
“Train services were disrupted as protestors squatted on railway tracks,” a senior railways official Kousik Mitra told AFP.
