Kolkata rape and murder: Violence at student march demanding chief minister stands down

Police use tear gas and water cannon to disperse protest over government handling of sexual assault and killing of doctor

Riot police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of rock-throwing demonstrators in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata on Tuesday, during protests demanding the resignation of West Bengal's chief minister over the rape and killing of a doctor.

The Paschimbanga Chhatro Samaj – the West Bengal Students' Society – led the march, saying Mamata Banerjee must step down over claims she has mishandled the case.

More than 6,000 police personnel had converted Nabanna, the West Bengal government headquarters, and the surrounding areas into a fortress by putting up steel barricades that were greased to prevent protesters scaling them.

Despite the heavy police presence in the state capital, protesters marched towards the headquarters of the state government, triggering clashes between officers and demonstrators.

Police fired dozens of tear gas shells and water cannon to disperse stone-throwing students, who carried anti-state government banners. Protesters and opposition parties accuse the state government of shielding those responsible for the killing.

Police viewed through the broken glass of one of their vehicles during a protest against the rape and murder of a doctor, in Kolkata, eastern India. AP

Clips aired on television showed angry protesters pulling down the barricades as police used water cannon and struck people with batons.

Namita Ghosh, a college student who attended the protest, told AFP news agency that the crowd intended to “protest peacefully” before the baton charge.

At least 100 protesters “have been arrested on the charges of violence”, a senior police official told AFP.

The killing of the resident doctor, 31, at the government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9 led to weeks-long nationwide protests and strikes by doctors.

Her body was discovered with multiple injuries – including to her head and neck – that indicated strangulation, according to a postmortem report.

Kolkata police initially arrested a volunteer at the hospital in connection with the case, but the matter was later taken up by the federal Central Bureau of Investigation, after the parents of the victim filed a petition.

The young woman's family sought an investigation monitored by courts to ensure evidence was not tampered with.

Ms Banerjee and her ruling Trinamool Congress party are facing allegations from political opponents, mainly from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, of shielding the alleged perpetrators.

The TMC party has also come under criticism for levels of alleged lawlessness in West Bengal.

The West Bengal government rejects the allegations and accused the BJP of orchestrating the protests and fomenting violence.

“Make no mistake, this isn't a protest for justice, it's chaos orchestrated by BJP – hired goons running amok, smashing barricades and attacking on-duty police officers,” the TMC said.

Protesters try to climb a barricade Kolkata, during Tuesday's demonstration. AP

The BJP accused police of heavy-handedness and claimed the ruling party was helping rapists and criminals.

It also announced a 12-hour strike on Wednesday to protest against police action against the demonstrators.

“The images of police high-handedness from Kolkata have angered every person who values democratic principles. In Didi’s [a nickname for Ms Banerjee] West Bengal, to help rapists and criminals is valued but it’s a crime to speak for women’s safety,” Jagat Prakash Nadda, BJP national president, wrote on X.

Doctors and healthcare workers, who launched a nationwide strike lasting two weeks, demanding justice for the trainee doctor and a safe environment for medics, refused to join Tuesday’s protests.

Education institutions in Kolkata were closed on Tuesday or moved to online classes, with thousands of police and paramilitary forces patrolling the streets.

Some protesters made comparisons to the weeks-long protests by students in Bangladesh that brought the 16-year rule of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to an abrupt end this month.

Ms Banerjee has been governing West Bengal for more than 15 years and her opponents accuse her of being an autocrat.

Protesters in Kolkata adapted a slogan used by Bangladeshi demonstrators against Ms Hasina to target Ms Banerjee. They chanted: “Dofa ek, dabi ek, Mamata Banerjeer podotyag” – which translates as “the only demand is Mamata Banerjee's resignation.” They carried placards with the same slogan.

The BJP has failed to make a significant mark in the state politics of West Bengal.