A video showing an elderly man bravely enduring water cannons during the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally in Kolkata has gone viral, sparking reactions from both BJP and Trinamool Congress leaders. The rally, held on Tuesday to protest the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was marked by clashes between protesters and police.

The video, widely circulated on social media by Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, shows the man, dressed in a saffron-colored outfit, standing firm against the powerful spray of water cannons deployed by Kolkata Police to disperse the rallying crowd. The man is seen holding and waving the national flag, symbolizing his defiance.

BJP leader Locket Chatterjee responded to the footage, stating that the man’s actions exemplify “steadfast determination” against the West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee. She posted on X, saying, “End anarchy, end fascism. We all want the tyranny of TMC to end. In the midst of exploding water cannons, this man is demonstrating his unwavering resolve to oppose the oppression of @MamataOfficial by holding the Tiranga. I stand by him, the people of the state stand by him, and the entire country is standing by him.”

The man is shown in the film as the “ultimate symbol of defiance” against the administration of Mamata Banerjee, according to Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP IT cell, who also uploaded it. “The ultimate symbol of defiance against an oppressive Mamata Banerjee regime is the man, waving a national flag on the iconic Howrah bridge, amidst blazing water cannon,” stated Malviya.

In response, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Riju Dutta shared a collage of images showing several protesters, including the elderly man, labeling them as “hooligans of BJP.” He accused the protesters of seeking to incite violence and chaos, similar to the unrest in Bangladesh. “They desired “Dead Bodies” and the establishment of anarchy in Bengal, akin to Bangladesh. They set fire to motorcycles, smashed barricades, threw stones at police, seriously injured several officers, and split IC Chanditala’s head open.We will not put up with this!” Dutta posted on X. He praised the West Bengal Police for maintaining composure despite being under attack and for restoring law and order.

The ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally, organized by members of the newly formed student group ‘Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj’ and other organizations, aimed to protest the violent crime against the 31-year-old trainee doctor. Despite the state police deeming the rally “illegal” and “unauthorized” due to concerns over possible violence and public disorder, the protesters marched on. Clashes broke out in various parts of Kolkata and Howrah as protesters attempted to break through police barricades to advance towards the West Bengal secretariat. In response, police used tear gas and lathi charges to disperse BJP leaders and supporters heading towards the Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar.

Over 200 individuals were arrested during the rally. The BJP condemned the “brutal” police response against what they dubbed “peaceful” protestors during the “Nabanna Abhijan” rally and called for a 12-hour “Bangla bandh” on Wednesday.

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Details of the New Protest Route: Gatherings and Security Measures in Nabanna Abhijan, Concerns Over Potential Disruptions

Authorities are actively working to prevent the Nabanna Abhijan operation. Nearly 21,000 police officers will be deployed across Kolkata and Howrah on Tuesday. Numerous barricades have been erected along routes leading to Nabanna to control the movement of protestors.

The ‘West Bengal Students’ Society’ has called for a Nabanna Abhiyan on Tuesday to demonstrate against the RG tax scandal. Tight security measures have been implemented across various areas of Kolkata and Howrah in preparation for this operation. The student organization has scheduled the gathering to begin at 1 PM on Tuesday. The plan is to assemble at two primary locations, from where the demonstrators will head towards Nabanna.

One procession, gathering at College Square, plans to reach Nabanna via Central Avenue, Dharmatala, Eden Gardens, and Hastings. Another procession will start from Santragachi bus stand, taking the Kona Expressway route towards Nabanna.

Sion Lahiri, representing the ‘West Bengal Chhatra Samaj,’ mentioned in a press conference that the protests would begin at College Square in Kolkata and Santragachi in Howrah at 1 PM on Tuesday. From there, the protestors will march towards Nabanna. Lahiri indicated that the procession will halt wherever the police block their way. However, he admitted uncertainty regarding the number of participants and the number of vehicles expected on Tuesday.

The state police have not granted permission for Tuesday’s Nabanna raid. Reports indicate that no formal request was initially made to the police for the protest, although two emails were sent on Monday afternoon. Due to multiple concerns, the police decided not to permit the Nabanna campaign.

With the police taking active measures to halt the Nabanna operation, around 21,000 officers will be deployed throughout Kolkata and Howrah. Barricades have been placed at various points along the routes to Nabanna. Not only are the main roads blocked, but smaller alleyways have also been barricaded. Significant barricades have been set up at locations such as Santragachi, Howrah Maidan, Foreshore Road, Laxminarayantala, and Mandirtala. The streets around Nabanna are also being fortified with barricades. Water cannons and drones have been stationed as part of the security measures.

There is also a possibility that protestors will gather at Sealdah station. From there, they could proceed to College Square via Mahatma Gandhi Road. Some groups might attempt to reach Nabanna by taking Mahatma Gandhi Road and crossing the Howrah Bridge. Initially, the plan is to halt the procession at the intersection of Mahatma Gandhi Road and Strand Road, just before reaching the Howrah Bridge. To enforce this, iron guardrails and Caesar barricades have been set up. Additionally, aluminum barriers and wooden stakes are being placed at the entrance to the Howrah Bridge.

As a result of the Nabanna operation, traffic control measures have been in effect on various roads since Tuesday morning. Public transport options, such as buses and auto-rickshaws, are scarce on the streets. This has caused significant inconvenience for office-goers, who are facing long waits for buses. The few buses that are operating are overcrowded. Many commuters are opting to use the metro instead of their regular bus routes. Despite these alternatives, numerous individuals are still facing difficulties in reaching their destinations.

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