Left protesters clash with police in Kolkata

The policemen resorted to lathicharge to bring the  situation under control. 

Many protesters and Left leaders, including West Bengal Left Front's chairman Biman Basu, CPI-M Rajya Sabha member Ritabrata Banerjee, CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty and few policemen, were injured during the clash.

Agitating several issues like against the soaring market prices, the state government’s failure to put a check on them and inappropriate handling of flood relief fund, protesters started the rallies to Nabanna from Rani Rasmoni Road and Khidderpore area in Kolkata and from Santragachi and Howrah Station area in West Bengal's Howrah district.

To maintain the law and order, a huge police force, including the  Rapid Action Force (RAF) led by 13 deputy commissioners, 2 additional or special commissioners, 4 joint commissioners and 42 assistant commissioners, were deployed.

Putting up four phase barricades at several points, police stopped the rallies.

Protesters started throwing bricks and stones by aiming at the police. They also tried to brake the barricades. Police lobbed teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse protesters.

Huge number of protesters including party's top leaders and few policemen were injured during the clash.

After getting a head injury, Biman Basu said, "I was hit by a brick but I don't know who threw it. More than 100 protesters are injured as the police lathicharged them."

Special Additional and Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Headquarters) Rajeeb Mishra said in a press conference, "Protesters brought bricks in their bags. Police played a defensive role during the unprovoked attack. As many as 25 policemen including few deputy commissioners, joint commissioners and lady cops were injured during the clash. Few of them are being treated in critical condition in Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial (SSKM) hospital, Bellevue Clinic and the Calcutta Medical Research Institute (CMRI). Four police vehicles were vandalized by the protesters. Twenty to thirty protesters were injured and three were arrested from the spot."

"We have started investigation. Definitely, we will lodge FIR soon," he added.

Aiming the police, protesters threw bombs during a rally in Howrah district, police said.

Police used water canons to control the situation.

Meanwhile, WB chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Kolkata Police commissioner Surajit Kar Purakayastha went to SSKM hospital to meet the injured policemen.

After meeting them, Mamata Banerjee said, "I have noticed the entire matter. Hope the injured cops and protesters will get well soon. I will comment on this issue tomorrow."

However, the traffic in central Kolkata and few areas in Howrah district were completely disrupted for hours.

(Reporting by Sudipto Maity, Additional inputs and Images by Deepayan Sinha/IBNS)