Kolkata, 18 May (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday adopted a tough stance over the violence and attack on police personnel during protests at Park Circus, asserting that assaults on law enforcement officers would no longer be tolerated under his government.

After visiting the DCP office at Park Circus and holding a meeting with senior police officials, the Chief Minister said this was the first attack on police personnel during his tenure and “it will be the last.” He warned that the government would take the strictest possible legal action against anyone attacking police officers.

The violence erupted on Sunday afternoon when hundreds of people gathered at Park Circus to protest against the state government’s bulldozer policy. Tension escalated after police allegedly asked the protesters to vacate the roads. Protesters accused the police of initiating a baton charge, while the police claimed that personnel were suddenly attacked with stones and that vehicles of central forces were vandalised. A large police contingent was deployed to bring the situation under control.

On Monday, the Chief Minister met injured police personnel and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and enquired about their condition. Praising the police for handling the situation, he said the forces had prevented a major incident and ensured public safety despite the unrest.

The Chief Minister stated that any political or religious organisation was free to hold programmes within the framework of law, but religious sloganeering, violence and stone-pelting on police would not be accepted. Referring to Kashmir, he said incidents of stone-pelting on security forces had stopped after the abrogation of Article 370 under the government led by Narendra Modi, and asserted that such incidents would also stop in West Bengal and Kolkata.

He directed police personnel to act fearlessly under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and assured them of full support from the state government. The Chief Minister further reiterated that his administration would maintain a “zero tolerance” policy towards violence, hooliganism and anti-national activities.

Adhikari also informed that police have so far arrested 40 people in connection with the Park Circus violence and stone-pelting incident. Further legal action is underway, he added.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh