Calcutta High Court allows Kalighat TMC's rally at Ballygunge Phari over Baruipur minor rape-murder

Kalighat Trinamool Congress (TMC) has got the green light after they approached the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to hold a procession (from Ballygunge Phari to Hazra More on Wednesday, July 8) to protest the rape and murder of a minor girl in Baruipur. The party alleged that police denied permission for the peaceful march, which is planned in the area where former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee resides. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, a lawyer, drew the attention of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya’s bench on Tuesday, leading the court to allow filing of the petition. The petition has been granted, with the caveat that the entire road must nit be blcked completely.

The exact motive behind the Wednesday procession remains unclear, with political observers suggesting it aims to demonstrate party strength amid recent internal issues. Mamata Banerjee had earlier led a candlelight protest march from her Kalighat residence on Monday, but central forces initially blocked her path, causing tension. She and her supporters eventually reached Harish Chatterjee Street, ignoring barricades. On the same day, Rajya Sabha MPs Dola Sen, Pratima Mondal, and former Speaker Biman Banerjee visited Baruipur on her instructions.

The Baruipur incident, involving the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl, has triggered widespread protests and political activity across West Bengal. The TMC’s court move comes amidst ongoing tensions between the party and law enforcement authorities regarding public demonstrations in sensitive areas. The High Court’s intervention is being closely watched in political circles as the case proceeds.