Democracy denied: Biman Bose and others injured in the Left Front Rally

By Arnab Mitra

Kolkata: The Bamfront Kisan Sabha (Agricultural wing of the Left Front) headed by seventeen different left organizations organized, on Thursday, a rally against the oppression of farmers by the state government.

But the peaceful rally, which was headed towards Nabanna, suddenly became violent after the police tried to stop it at Mayo Road in Kolkata, and at some other areas in Howrah.

In Kolkata, violence erupted when the left front rally headed by CPI (M) state secretary Biman Bose came to Mayo Road. His supporters tried to break the barricade, but the police resisted them using lathis and bricks. In the brick batting that followed, the police, the supporters, as well as the media persons were injured.

Biman Bose, who was trying to calm the supporters, was also badly hit by the Police. He said, "The police instigated the mob and the protesters to start violence. It was totally uncalled for." In Howrah, several supporters were injured and Police were seen mercilessly attacking the left supporters.

The police action on the peaceful rally raises serious questions about the commitment of the ruling Trinamool Congress and its Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee towards democracy. Activist Dr. Miratun Nahar said: "The Government is impatient, and the police brutality towards the peaceful rally is highly deplorable."

The high voltage rally on Thursday shows, on the one hand, the rising strength of the left organizations in Bengal and on the other hand, the murkiness Trinamool Government.