A peaceful protest march in Barrackpore’s Naihati turned violent on Sunday, with protestors alleging that unidentified miscreants attacked them. The protest, by alumni of various schools, was demanding justice for the junior doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The incident occurred as the protesters were marching through the streets of Naihati. According to the students, a group of individuals who they believed to be affiliated with the ruling Trinamool Congress, allegedly confronted and began assaulting the participants.

Several people were injured in the scuffle, and some alleged molestation as well, though no formal complaint of that reportedly reached the police.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress leadership in Naihati denied the allegations against them, accusing the Communist Party of India (Marxist) party of instigating the violence. Abhijit Chatterjee, a local TMC youth leader, claimed that his party’s members were at the protest to demand justice for the victim.

A student from Uttar Garifa Pallimangal High School said, “We were coming from Ferighat when some people attacked us. One of them laid hands on me.” Another student complained of being beaten up during the attack.

Police have registered a suo moto case. DC North Barrackpore Ganesh Biswas said that while no formal complaint of molestation was received, police found that two groups were involved in a scuffle and investigations are on.

Chatterjee told mediapersons, “We brought a toto with a microphone. Suddenly other people occupied the toto and took it from us. We are being falsely accused. The CBI has been investigating the case since August 13. What is the progress in this case? No one is bothered about that.”

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