Indian Secular Front (ISF) activists took to the streets across West Bengal on Thursday, demanding the immediate release of their lone MLA, Nawsad Siddique, and several party workers arrested during a protest on Wednesday. Demonstrations flared outside Bankshall Court in Kolkata, where Siddique was set to appear, with supporters chanting slogans against the state government.

In North 24 Parganas’ Haroa, ISF workers burned tyres to protest the arrests, which followed a demonstration against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, alleged harassment of Bengali migrant laborers in BJP-ruled states, and the special intensive revision of electoral rolls. Siddique, representing Bhangar in South 24 Parganas, and others were detained for allegedly damaging public property during the chaotic protest in central Kolkata, which saw clashes between ISF activists and police.

Heavy police presence and barricades were deployed outside the court to block ISF supporters from entering. Authorities also appealed to protesters to ease traffic disruptions in the area. An ISF leader warned, “If our leader and workers aren’t released, we’ll escalate our protests.” The arrests stem from Wednesday’s unrest, where Kolkata Police used minimal force to clear a blockade, with Deputy Commissioner (Central) Indira Mukherjee stating no injuries were reported.

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The protests have intensified political tensions, with ISF accusing the government of suppressing their peaceful dissent, raising questions about the state’s response to the growing unrest.

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