BJP march turns violent as state chief, LoP detained

KOLKATA: Police personnel and BJP supporters clashed on Thursday during a march in the Bengal capital to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital earlier this month.

The BJP’s march to Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the state health department at Salt Lake, began at a place around 5 km away. The party had earlier announced that its leaders would gherao Swasthya Bhawan.

The rally led by state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar and leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari tried to break the police cordon set up at several places along the route.

The police were seen trying to pacify the BJP supporters but later chased them to disperse. Adhikari was detained by police and put inside a prison van, following which the BJP activists tried to forcibly free him.