The Indian Army began dismantling a protest stage set up by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Kolkata’s Maidan area on Monday, escalating tensions with the ruling party in West Bengal. The stage, erected to protest alleged atrocities against Bengali-speaking migrant workers in other states, had been in place for nearly a month, far exceeding the permitted duration.

A defence official clarified that the Local Military Authority in Kolkata, under Supreme Court guidelines, allows temporary structures in the Maidan for only two days. Events lasting longer require approval from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India. “Despite multiple reminders to remove the structure, the organizers failed to comply,” the official stated. Consequently, the Army, which oversees the Maidan area due to its proximity to the Eastern Command headquarters at Fort William, initiated the dismantling process.

Kolkata Police were present at the site to maintain law and order, with an officer from Maidan police station noting that the Army’s action followed repeated weekend protests by TMC. The police ensured the situation remained under control during the operation.

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TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP-led central government of targeting the party, claiming, “First the ED, then the CBI, and now the Army is being used against us.” In response, TMC announced plans to relocate their protest to Rani Rashmoni Road, vowing to continue their agitation against the alleged mistreatment of Bengali migrants.

The dismantling has sparked a political firestorm, with TMC framing it as an attack on their right to protest. The Maidan, a historic public space, remains under Army jurisdiction, making such actions subject to strict regulatory oversight.

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