SUC supporters protested outside the CEO office in Kolkata, causing traffic disruptions and police intervention. The Election Commission condemned the actions.
“Councillor Beleghata with some hooligans gheraoed the office of CEO and shouted slogans at the dead of night,” stated the Election Commission, highlighting the tensions that erupted during a protest by supporters of the Students’ Union of Calcutta (SUC) outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s office on Strand Road, Kolkata.
The protest, which was part of a scheduled program announced by SUC, escalated quickly, prompting police to set up barricades to prevent the demonstrators from entering the office. As a result, Strand Road was blocked, leading to significant traffic jams and leaving many commuters stranded for over an hour.
In response to the protest, the police initiated a case and imposed Section 163 in the Strand Road area, reinforcing their commitment to maintaining order. The Election Commission condemned the incident as anti-social activity, stating, “Such anti-social activities will not be tolerated and law will take its own course.”
The disruption caused by the protest not only affected the immediate area but also had a ripple effect on the surrounding traffic, with many individuals unable to reach their destinations in a timely manner.
In an effort to inform the public, the CEO office shared a video of the incident on social media, illustrating the chaotic scenes that unfolded during the protest.
As the situation developed, the Election Commission’s firm stance against the protest underscored the ongoing tensions in the political landscape of West Bengal, particularly between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any further actions that may be taken against the protesters or the implications of the protest on upcoming electoral processes.
As authorities continue to assess the situation, the focus remains on ensuring that such incidents do not disrupt the democratic process in West Bengal.
