Tensions are running high in West Bengal as the "Nabanna Abhijan" rally, organised to protest the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College, faces strong opposition from the state government. The situation took a dramatic turn on Tuesday when Leader of Opposition in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, accused the Mamata Banerjee government of forcibly disappearing four students set to join the protest.
Taking to microblogging site X early on Tuesday morning, Adhikari claimed that the students, who were last seen at Howrah Station the night before, went missing and blamed the "Mamata Police" for their disappearance. In his post, he also mentioned the names of the students - Subhojit Ghosh, Pulokesh Pandit, Goutam Senapati, Pritam Sarkar - who were distributing food to the volunteers.
"The following Student Activists who were distributing food to the volunteers, who were arriving at Howrah Station, suddenly went missing after midnight......", Adhikari wrote on X. "Neither they can be traced nor are they answering their phones....We apprehend that they may have been arrested/detained by the Mamata Police....If something happens to them Mamata Police will be held accountable", he further added.
The West Bengal Police, however, quickly dismissed Adhikari's claims, stating that the students were not missing but had been arrested for allegedly plotting violence during the rally.
The Bengal Police posted on X, "A certain political leader has been trying to create a false narrative about four students who have apparently been missing since last night. The truth is, nobody is missing. The four were planning to orchestrate large-scale violence during the Nabanna Abhijan today, and were involved in a conspiracy of murder and attempted murder. They have been arrested in the Interest of public safety and security, and their families have been informed".
Soon after, Adhikari responded by announcing that the families of the arrested students have approached the Calcutta High Court. He wrote on X, "The families have approached Hon’ble Calcutta High Court. See you in Court Mamata Police…".
The rally, organised to demand justice for the doctor, has sparked widespread controversy. While the BJP supports the protest, accusing the government of suppressing dissent, the ruling TMC argues that political forces are exploiting the rally.
The Kolkata Police have implemented extensive security measures for the "Nabanna Abhijan" protest march to the West Bengal state secretariat, due to concerns about potential violence. The march, organised by an unregistered group posing as a student organisation, protests the alleged rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at RG Kar Medical College on August 9.
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