Kolkata: Kolkata Police intensified its crackdown in Bhangar, with arrests mounting to 16 in connection with Monday's violent anti-waqf act protests. Of these, 4 were arrested in North Kashipur PS jurisdiction while 3 were held in Chandaneshwar.
Cops said that the arrested faced multiple charges, including destruction of public property, assault on police personnel, obstruction of govt duties, and incitement to violence. Even as normalcy returned to Bhangar on Wednesday, police maintained a strong presence in the area. Many in the local police force have been seeking a separate reserve force for the Bhangar division.
There have been allegations from certain quarters that police could not anticipate the massive gathering that became violent on Monday. Asked about this, a Lalbazar police officer said it was still early days of probe in the matter. Asked as to how so many people had gathered all of a sudden, a Bhangar division officer said: "Police baton charge on Basanti Highway went viral on social media. It fuelled resentment and a smear campaign against the police began. Within hours, thousands of people had gathered."
In Monday's clashes, North Kashipur additional OC Firoz Tamang, SI Debabrata Shikdar, Chandaneshwar OC Atanu Majumdar and about eight to ten cops were injured. Ten to twelve ISF workers were injured in police retaliation.