Kolkata calm; cops want Taslima to leave Bengal

BENGAL BURNS: Kolkata witnessed large-scale violence as protestors demanded Taslima Nasreen's visa cancellation.

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Kolkata / New Delhi: Central Kolkata on Wednesday literally turned into a battlefield after protests over atrocities in Nandigram and Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen's stay in India snowballed into arson and violence.

Armed with lathis and swords, hundreds of agitators belonging to a minority forum clashed with policemen even as the Army stepped in to take charge of the burning city. Many vehicles, including ambulances and state-run buses were set ablaze and so were local offices of the ruling party CPI-M. More than 150 cars were smashed in the city.

Commuters and schoolchildren were the worst hit in the riots as resultant traffic snarls left a large portion of the city choked.

“I got stranded on the roads for over two hours. I have an exam on Thursday but now I am too tired and scared to study,” a worried student said.

Trouble started when a protest programme organised by the All India Minority Forum (AIMF) to block roads over the issue of Nandigram and stay of Taslima Nasreen turned violent.

Thousands of AIMF members had gathered at crossings on major roads such as Sealdah Railway Station, Park Circus, AJC Bose Road, Ripon Street and CIT Road.

The crowd went out of control when the police tried to intervene and stop the protesters from gathering together. The crowd went on a rampage and started throwing stones and soda water bottles at the policemen. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Jawed Shamim was injured when the police tried to lift the blockade on the arterial AJC Bose Road. A CNN-IBN cameraperson was also hurt in the stone pelting.

"The cause of the protest is Nandigram tension and Taslima Nasreen. Without any provocation, the police started beating the protestors. Both Muslims and non-Muslims are on the streets now," Minority Front President Shehenshah Jehangir told CNN-IBN.

The situation is under control for the moment and curfew will be imposed in the trouble- torn areas like Park Circus, Moulali and Ripon Street from 2200 hours IST to 0600 hours IST on Thursday.

“The police have brought the situation under control and the Rapid Action Force has also been deployed. The state government has conveyed to us that the situation is tense but fully under control,” Home Minister Shivraj Patil said.

The Army presence has helped bring the situation under control. Over 700 armed troops have been called in to conduct flag marches in Kolkata essentially to give out a message of law and order. Each Army column is being accompanied by a local magistrate as the troops are not authorised to use force without a written authorisation by the accompanying magistrate.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya called an emergency meeting to take stock of the situation.

West Bengal Home secretary PR Roy said more than 60 people have been arrested for the violence. "There has been no firing. Only tear gas shells were used and mob was lathicharged," he said.

Police offers Taslima Nasreen to move out of Bengal

West Bengal police on Wednesday made an offer to controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen to move her out of the state following outbreak of large-scale violence in Kolkata during a shutdown called by a Muslim outfit demanding that her visa will be cancelled.

Union Home Ministry sources told PTI that the police has suggested to Nasreen that she could be moved out to Gujarat but the author is believed to have turned down the offer.

The visa of the Bangladeshi writer has been extended by the Government till February 17 next year.

(With PTI inputs)