CAA protests: Cops clash with students in Kolkata

A scuffle broke out between police and students protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Kolkata on Saturday. Students from the Jadavpur University, Calcutta University, Aliah University, Presidency University, and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute.

The situation became tense when the massive protest march of students was passing by the state BJP headquarters in central Kolkata and section of the protesters tried to break through a police barricade and head towards the party office.

Despite heavy police deployment and large scale security arrangements a section protesters managed to break through the bamboo barricade near the state BJP headquarters. They also shouted slogans against BJP.

BJP workers came out of the office with sticks in hand and started shouting slogans.

However, they were immediately intercepted by police and were unable to go any further.

Following the scuffle, police managed to convince the protesters who then continued with the procession.

The procession started from Sahid Minar in Central Kolkata and concluded near the Mahajati Sadan auditorium in the city.

However, within about an hour a section of the students again assembled before the state BJP headquarters but were stopped by police.

Reacting to the development State BJP president Dilip Ghosh said " if anyone makes the mistake of heading towards our party office they should bring stretchers with them as they will not be able to walk back and have to go to hospital."

He also said that regardless of whether "10 or 100 people die anyone vandalising public property will be shot at whether its Assam, Uttar Pradesh or any other place in the country."

" There are videos of those have indulged into vandalism. FIR will be lodged against them and sooner or later they will face the law. Didi (West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) will not be able to save them in court," said Ghosh. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party program in Bankura district.

Earlier in the day Youth Congress workers stated a protest demonstration against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in central Kolkata. The city has witnessed protest marches against the act by the TMC, Left Front and Congress. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has led back to back protest marches against the Act. West Bengal was rocked by violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act during which trains and buses were set ablaze.