Biswabrata Goswami
KRISHNAGAR, 11 NOV: Two more youths have been arrested by the Kotwali police in connection with the involvement to the spontaneous mass protest convened by hundreds of youths and women to protest against the ban on the immersion procession with ‘Saang’.
The two youths named as Sumit Santra and Ashirbad Chakraborty were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Krishnagar where the magistrate on hearing pleas remanded them in judicial custody and they will be produced further on 16 November.
Earlier, five youths who were allegedly involved in ten-hour-long spontaneous apolitical mass protest against the ban on the immersion procession with ‘Saang’, were arrested by the Kotwali police.
All the youths have been arrested for violating laws including blocking National Highway, disobedience of order promulgated by public servant, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty and others, said Debashish Roy, defence lawyer.
The Kotwali police basically initiated three cases (Case no. 1103/21, 1104/21 and1105/21 dated 10.11.2021) against unknown persons who were involved in series of mass protests held on 9 November by hundreds of Krishnagar people including scores of women demanding the withdraw of the ban on immersion procession with Saang i.e. carrying idols with saang on shoulders of bearers.
Kotwali PS case no 1103/21 dt 10/11/21 u/s 325/427/308 IPC was started over the complaint filed by one Subodh Ghosh, over the issue of throwing stones at his bus, and several people getting injured in the process.
Suo motto complaint was submitted against the road obstructers at PWD more on NH-34 under Kotwali police station limits against seven arrested persons and 200/250 others of Krishnagar town area and this refers to Kotwali PS case no 1104/21 dt 10/11/21 u/s 143/283/285/188/353/337/34 IPC & 8(b) NH act 1956 & 426 of control of NH act.
Third case was started on the same issue and this refers to Kotwali PS case no 1105/21 dt 10/11/21 u/s 304/34 IPC based on the complaint filed by one Sajmul Sheikh, that as he was going to Kolkata for treatment for his little boy named Sakibul Sheikh (7), and his son expired on NH 34 due to road obstruction caused by the agitators.
All the seven arrested youths as noted above of Kotwali PS case no 1104/21 have been shown arrest in c/w Kotwali PS case no 1103/21 & 1105/21 also, a release from SP, Krishnagar Police District said.
Considering the guidelines enacted by the Kolkata High Court over some restrictions on puja festivities to curb the spread of Covid infections, the Krishnagar police district has banned immersion procession with ‘Saang’ this year too like previous year.
But, confusion triggered from the recently held administrative coordination meeting with Jagaddhatri puja committees where Trinamul Congress Krishnagar North district president Jayanta Saha and chairperson of Krishnagar municipality administrative body, Naresh Das appealed before the administration to allow the traditional idol immersion procession with saang and to maintain its traditional route of idol procession while the TMC minister Ujjal Biswas pleaded for maintaining the High Court order regarding the puja and immersion.
Thousands of Krishnagar people who raised voice for keeping traditional legacy of Krishnagar Jagaddhatri puja, immediately started chatting in social medias on hopes to converge the ‘emotion’ of Krishnagar people and they took to the street on 9 November to protest against the ban on traditional immersion procession.
Armed with their only ‘emotion’ for keeping their traditional Jagaddhatri puja legacy, hundreds of youths and women irrespective of their political inclination started a protest agitation at Municipality More (crossing) which later turned into a mass protest. The agitation started from 6 pm and it continued till 9.30 pm. The Kotwali IC, Raktim Chakraborty finally appeared before the mass carrying court order, saying that they have no power to violate court order.
The agitators then started agitation in front of the Kotwali police station but the police once again said that they have nothing to do about their demands.
Infuriated by the declination from the administrative part, a section of agitators went to the PWD More on the National Highwat-34 and put up a road block. As a result, hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the highway leading to a huge traffic jam. The agitation continued till 3 am until the Kotwali police resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the mob. During the agitation, an ambulance carrying a patient from Malda to reach Kolkata was blocked and it had to wait for two hours to reach PWD More. Though, the agitators helped to make a passage for the ambulance and other emergency service vehicles, but the ambulance could not move an inch for an hour near the bridge where stranded vehicles blocked the entire road.
When the ambulance carrying a seven-year-old boy suffering from acute ailments reached PWD More, it was immediately sent to the Saktinagar district hospital where the doctor pronounced him brought dead.
This unwanted incident forced the police to resort to a lathicharge to disperse the agitators from the National Highway, but it was too late.
Tags: #KrishnagarJagaddhatriPuja #Saang #Immersion #Procession
