Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar backed Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s declaration in the West Bengal Assembly that those causing disturbance during a Left parties’ procession in Kolkata will face consequences. Majumdar highlighted that the procession faced disruptions before reaching Dorina Crossing, with alleged attacks on journalists and harassment of others. He mentioned receiving a call from a female journalist who was saved by women present at the scene from potential molestation.
Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee, strongly criticized the assault on media personnel during a student protest in Kolkata’s Esplanade area. Banerjee visited the injured journalists at SSKM Hospital and demanded stringent legal actions against the perpetrators, emphasizing the inadmissibility of such attacks on the media. Multiple cases have been filed in Kolkata police stations regarding the incident, with efforts underway to identify the culprits through CCTV footage.
The protest, organized by various student groups of the Left Front against the NEET-UG exam paper leak, witnessed participation from thousands of individuals. Tensions escalated during the protest at Dorina Crossing, leading to clashes between the police and protesters, resulting in the police resorting to a cane charge to restore order. Journalists and cameramen from different media outlets sustained injuries during the chaos.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, on Saturday, condemned the assault on journalists, vowing severe repercussions for the perpetrators that would be remembered by future generations.
