Suvendu Adhikari Halts ‘Nabanna Chalo Abhiyan’ After Clashes, Visits Injured Parents of RG Kar Victim

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari called off the ‘Nabanna Chalo Abhiyan’ protest march to the West Bengal state secretariat on Saturday after a three-hour sit-in at the Park Street-J L Nehru Road intersection, where hundreds of demonstrators demanding justice for the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital were met with police lathicharges. The decision to withdraw was influenced partly by the hospitalization of the victim’s mother, who allegedly sustained serious injuries during the police action.

Adhikari announced the suspension at the protest site, citing the “brutal lathicharge” that left the victim’s mother with forehead, hand, and back injuries. “As the parents joined the rally at my invitation, it’s my duty to ensure their well-being,” he said, describing the police response as a “disregard for democracy and women’s safety.” He visited the parents at a private hospital, where the mother underwent a CT scan and other tests to assess internal and external injuries. “Her condition is very serious, while the father’s is relatively stable,” Adhikari told reporters.

The victim’s mother alleged she was pinned to the ground by women police personnel at Park Street crossing, breaking her traditional ‘shankha’ bangle and injuring her forehead. “Four to five officers assaulted me,” she claimed, adding, “All we wanted was to reach Nabanna to demand justice for my daughter.” The father echoed her account, alleging police tracked their vehicle from Sinthi crossing to block their participation, despite court permission for a peaceful rally. “We played a cat-and-mouse game to reach Dorina Crossing,” he said. Police, however, denied targeting the parents, with DC (Port) Harikrishna Pai stating, “We have no information of such an incident, but the allegations will be investigated.”

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Adhikari condemned the police action, displaying a video purportedly showing officers attacking protesters and vowed to pursue legal action against Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma and others under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He promised a “fiercer” next phase of agitation after consultations with BJP state chief Samik Bhattacharya and other stakeholders. He also noted that the withdrawal allowed the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front and Abhaya Manch to continue their planned protests. “Though they didn’t support our rally, our fight for justice aligns,” he said, reiterating the demand to oust the “tyrant Mamata Banerjee regime” to uncover the “larger conspiracy” behind the RG Kar incident.

The march, marking one year since the RG Kar tragedy, saw clashes at multiple points, including Howrah Bridge and Dorina Crossing, as protesters attempted to breach barricades. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders countered, accusing the BJP of inciting unrest during Raksha Bandhan. TMC minister Sashi Panja labeled the protest “vandalism,” claiming, “Outsiders were brought in to destabilize Bengal’s cultural spirit.” TMC’s Kunal Ghosh added, “A few hundred troublemakers provoked the police, who showed restraint.”

The parents’ hospitalization has intensified the controversy, with the BJP alleging a deliberate attempt to “silence” them for their unwavering protest. As Kolkata grapples with the fallout, the call for justice grows louder, setting the stage for further agitation.

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