a day later violence erupted During a march to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) state secretariat in Kolkata and Howrah, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the police could have opened fire on the protesters but exercised restraint.
“They have destroyed everything. People were tortured. Yes the police could have opened fire, but that is not desirable. The police remained restrained and tried to manage.” [the situation]…but this cannot be allowed as they will bring people from outside in trains and sabotage them. Several police personnel were injured yesterday,” the chief minister said during an administrative meeting at Nimtauri in East Medinipur district.
The Chief Minister said that he has nothing against democratic and peaceful protest. “The BJP and its supporters resorted to violence, sabotage and arson….we will not allow it. arrests are being madeAnd the law will take its course,” Ms Banerjee said.
Several BJP leaders attacked the West Bengal government over yesterday’s violence. Former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad held a press conference in Delhi and said that West Bengal has become a “chaotic and bankrupt state” under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. He also accused the Chief Minister of violating the limits of constitutional rule. Responding to the BJP leader’s remarks, Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said Mr Prasad should read the Constitution and his party people should also read it.
‘Shoot at sight’
Kolkata Police has registered seven FIRs for unlawful assembly, violating Section 144 CrPC, rioting, attacking police and setting a police van on fire in connection with Tuesday’s violence. At least 15 people, including three, have been arrested for assaulting an assistant commissioner and setting a police van on fire.
Mr Banerjee also met the injured assistant commissioner of Kolkata Police, Debjit Chattopadhyay, who was injured in the violence on Tuesday. The video of BJP supporters assaulting a police officer has also been made public.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the injured police officer, Mr. Banerjee said. “I salute him” [the police officer], Had I been in his place and a police van was set on fire in front of my eyes, I should have shot him right here,” said the Trinamool leader, pointing to his forehead. There was a strong reaction to the Trinamool leader’s remarks. The state BJP president said Mr Banerjee was provoking the police and trying to “please the trigger”.
During the day, Kolkata Mayor and Trinamool leader Firhad Hakim met BJP councilor Meena Devi Purohit, who was injured while attending a party rally on Tuesday. State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar also spoke to the injured police officer over telephone and condemned the attack on the policemen.