By IANS
Kolkata/New Delhi : The army was called out in Kolkata Wednesday after large-scale violence and arson erupted during protests over atrocities in Nandigram and the stay of controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen in India.
Several policemen were injured in violent clashes with the protesters in the centre of the city. Many vehicles were set ablaze. So was a local office of the ruling party in the state. Resultant traffic snarls left a large portion of the city choked.
An army spokesperson in New Delhi said military authorities had been asked for help and two columns of 100-120 soldiers each had moved out for a flag march at 3 p.m. in the West Bengal capital. Four more columns were set to move immediately afterwards.
A local office of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) at Beniapukur in central Kolkata here was set on fire by the mob, even as police fired tear gas shells and baton-charged them.
Police said the violence spread like wildfire in all directions across the area.
Trouble started when a protest programme organised by the All India Minority Forum (AIMF) to block roads over the issue of Nandigram and stay of Taslima Nasreen turned violent.
Thousands of AIMF members had gathered at road crossings like Park Circus, A.J.C. Bose Road, Ripon Street and CIT Road.
The crowd went out of control when the police tried to intervene and stop the protesters from gathering together. The crowd went on a rampage and started throwing stones, soda water bottles and other missiles at the policemen.
Several media personnel from television channels were hurt in the stone pelting.
Deputy Commissioner (south division) of Kolkata Police Jawed Shamim was amongst those injured in the violent face-off.
“We gathered at different crossings to stage a road blockade programme in the city. I heard suddenly a section of protesters became furious and started throwing stones at the police.
“We have always tried to voice our protest in a peaceful manner and so I fear this is a sabotage,” AIMF president Idris Ali told IANS.
“There might be some outsiders who intentionally caused this untoward incident in our protest. I have already instructed our men to maintain peace. I am rushing to the spot myself,” Ali said Wednesday afternoon.
“The protest and road blockade programmes were called to voice our protest against the CPI-M-led West Bengal government’s Nandigram policy and allowing Taslima Nasreen to stay here,” Ali confirmed.
The violence had a cascading effect, leading to major traffic snarls during the morning rush hour several crowded areas near the central business district – including Sealdah railway station, Mallik Bazar, Alimuddin Street, CIT Road, Padmapukur, Moulali and Entally.