Police lathi-charge as protesters hurl shoes and bottles; Esplanade turns into battlefield

Tension gripped central Kolkata on Friday afternoon after a student demonstration over the NEET examination scandal escalated into violent clashes with law enforcement near Dorina Crossing in Dharmatala. The march, organized by Left student organizations alongside student activists, proceeded from Sealdah to Dharmatala before transitioning into a sit-in demonstration. However, the situation deteriorated rapidly when police personnel attempted to clear the blocked intersection and disperse the gathering.

According to eye-witness accounts, as police officers moved in with heavy barricades to clear the road, a massive scuffle broke out between security forces and the demonstrating youth. Protesters allegedly threw water bottles, shoes, and liquids at police personnel deployed at the scene. In response, law enforcement officials resorted to a baton charge to force back the crowd and clear the thoroughfare, leading to chaotic scenes as demonstrators scattered across the intersection.

The clash temporarily transformed the busy Dorina Crossing into a battlefield, leaving hundreds of abandoned shoes and plastic bottles strewn across the street. Authorities immediately deployed additional security forces, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), to secure the area and bring the situation under control. While police officials engaged with student leaders to restore normalcy, heavy traffic disruptions persisted throughout the Dharmatala transit corridor into the evening.