Kolkata, (IANS): Accusing the police with attacking its workers with the help of state’s ruling Trinamool Congress cadres, the West Bengal unit of the BJP claimed that around 200 party workers were injured in police action during the protest march on Thursday.
Calling the state police “unprofessional” and “ferocious”, state BJP spokesman Samik Bhattacharya alleged the security forces carried out “unprovoked baton charge” on the BJP supporters during the march to the city police headquarters.
“Unable to control our movement, the police brought in Trinamool-backed hooligans. Nothing can be more condemnable than the police attacking agitators by taking help of ruling party-backed goons. We condemn this,” Bhattacharya said.
He said BJP leader Locket Chatterjee was among the injured and had to be treated at the Kolkata Medical College Hospital.
“Police behaved in an unprofessional and ferocious manner. They carried out unprovoked baton charge. Around 200 BJP workers, including women, were injured. Two of our workers are admitted in the state-run SSKM Hospital in very serious condition. One of them has got internal haemorrhage, another 27-year-old boy vomited out blood.”
Bhattacharya said, “Ninety-two of our workers have registered in the Kolkata Medical College as injured. What is more despicable is the attitude of the police. When Locket Chatterjee was being treated at the medical college and she was unable to breathe properly without oxygen support, police entered and said there was no need for her treatment, and that they were arresting her,” he said.
Slamming the state administration, Bhattacharya said it “cannot tolerate the least bit of criticism and opposition”.
He also alleged that some people pelted stones at the rallyists standing before the police, while acid bottles were flung at BJP workers near the Central Metro station.
He also flayed the police for attacking the state BJP headquarters.
“When over 60 of our workers were being given medical treatment in our state party headquarters, police attacked them, along with others. Veterans of our party were assaulted,” he said.