Kolkata: Amid endless protests over the sexual assault and murder of a junior doctor at a state-run hospital nine days ago, Kolkata’s football fans staged a unique agitation for several hours on Sunday, braving heavy showers.
Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, celebrated football clubs with a century-old rivalry, assembled in thousands near Salt Lake Stadium from the afternoon only to run into a massive police resistance.
Some supporters of Mohammedal Sporting, which complete the ‘Big Three’, also joined the protest to show their solidarity with Mohun Bagan and East Bengal fans.
Upset over the state administration’s decision to cancel Sunday’s Derby clash in the Durand Cup over law and order situation, fans turned up clad in their respective club jerseys, waving club flags and posters — unanimous in their demand for justice for the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital victim while many demanded resignation of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
Their other major issue was over the cancellation of much-hyped Derby.
As hundreds of police personnel tried to stop the growing rally and resorted to lathicharge at times, the protesters sought answers from Mamata’s administration why the match had to be called off.
“Just see the number of policepersons on duty here… and they said the match was cancelled due to security reasons. If they had deployed this many cops at the stadium, the match could easily have been conducted,” said one of the protesters.
Another pointed out the ‘stupidity’ of the administration.
“Had the match been held, there would have been some protests inside the stadium with slogans, banners, tifos, etc. But this protest has become much bigger,” he observed.
A video posted by ANI showed the football fans’ agitation, which is ongoing even at
#WATCH | Football fans stage a protest near Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata against the rape and murder of a woman resident doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The Durand Cup match between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal scheduled to be held today was cancelled. pic.twitter.com/3OyqhcIXrR
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2024
Among the countless female protesters, one of them claimed she had been pushed around by mal cops.
“How dare they touch us? Where were the woman cops?”
Large number of Mohun Bagan & East Bengal fans have started arriving at Salt Lake Stadium. Possibly in a first where both the flags fly in unison. A huge police force is also present. pic.twitter.com/KA8HSMAkag
— Sudhanidhi Bandyopadhyay (@SudhanidhiB) August 18, 2024
Scores of protesters were pushed into vans and taken away from the spot.
Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was in force in the area from 4 pm to midnight, and Bidhan Nagar police kept reminding the public not to assemble near the stadium in crowds of more than 5.
All their pleas fell on deaf ears, and police withdrew Section 163 in an effort to control the crowd directly.
All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey, a local BJP leader, arrived in front of Sa;t Lake Stadium and urged police not to charge at the protesters.
“It is very shameful; law and order has completely collapsed in West Bengal. A football match could not happen… and look at the police deployment, it looks like a riot is going on,” Chaubey told mediapersons.
