BJP supporters clashed with police during a demonstration in Bengal on Thursday.
Calcutta:
Footage of police forcibly arresting a Sikh man at the BJP mega-protest in Calcutta on Thursday sparked major controversy with the party accusing cops of hurting religious sentiments by removing the turban of Balwinder Singh, 43, a resident . of Bhatinda, during a clash at Howrah maidan.
The controversy gained such momentum on social media, even cricketer Harbajan Singh tweeted, tagging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to say, “Please look into the matter. It just isn’t done.”
A 9mm pistol was seized from Mr. Singh. After his arrest, he provided a firearms license, valid until January of next year. The license holder is apparently a former Indian Army soldier with the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion.
Howrah police were quoted as saying they had no intention of removing her turban. But videos of his clash with police went viral on Friday – which show his turban ripped off and police beat him as he fell to the ground – sparked an argument.
Not just BJP leaders, but even Shiromani member Akali Dal urging Mamata Banerjee to take action against police personnel involved in the incident.
Plz take a look at this question @MamataOfficial this is not done ???????? https://t.co/mKrbQhn1qy
– Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 9, 2020
कलकत्ता में सेक्युरिटी ऑफिसर बलविंदर सिंह की पगड़ी खींचकर, सड़क पर घसीट कर बर्बर तरीके से पीटा जाना बेहद शर्मनाक और निंदनीय है@MamataOfficial जी से हमारी माँग- दोषी पुलिसवालों के खिलाफ 295A मुकदमा का दर्ज किया जाये और सख़्त सजा दी जाये@ANi@TimesNow@[email protected]/BKWkS7Hcyv
– #Istandwithfarmers Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) October 9, 2020
Yeh tasweer dekhke mai stabdh hoon !! Agar yeh kiya hai Bengal police ne (Sab kehe rehe hain ke yeh sach hai) toh unki exemplary saaza honi chahiye aur @TajinderBagga Bhai, mai aapse yeh kahunga ke iss ghatna ko lekar aap Court jaiye #FaltuDidirPaltuPolice#BanglarLojjaMamatahttps://t.co/YBQDT1TSxr
– Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) October 9, 2020
सरदार बलविंदर सिंह जी की पगड़ी खींच कर बंगाल पुलिस ने देश के सभी सिखों का अपमान किया है, आज ऐसा प्रतीत होता है कि बंगाल में पुनः मुग़लों का शासन स्थापित हो गया है।
क्या बंगाल में एक समुदाय विशेष को छोड़ कर बाकी किसी की भी धार्मिक भावनाओं का सम्मान नही रहा? pic.twitter.com/uYjCl7G6ze
– Arvind Menon (@MenonArvindBJP) October 9, 2020
Hundreds of BJP protesters clashed with police outside the Bengal government secretariat “Nabanna” on Friday, tossing safety measures for COVID-19, including social distancing, to the wind. Footage from the location showed policemen dressed in riot gear trying to disperse the crowd with tear gas and water cannons as stones were thrown from the other side.
The BJP organized the “Nabanna Chalo” (Let’s Go to Nabanna) protest defying government orders banning large gatherings. The new leader of the BJP youth wing, Tejasvi Surya, flew to the city to take part in the protest, which was seen as the party’s show of force in the state capital, Kolkata.
In the afternoon, the BJP had organized three marches which all headed towards the Secretary of State. The largest of them, maidan, was led by Tejasvi Surya. Protesters were stopped halfway, prompting angry BJP supporters to attack police with stones. When they attempted to bring down the barricades, the police responded with tear gas shells.
