Violent clash between cops & ISF at Dharmatala; Nawsad Siddique arrested

Dharmatala in Kolkata was transformed into a "war zone" after a protest by supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) turned violent. The demonstrators, who were protesting against what they referred to as "SIR-Wakf," clashed fiercely with the Kolkata Police when the authorities attempted to remove an unauthorized protest stage from the Dharmatala Metro Channel area. Police have arrested party leader Nawsad Siddique.

According to a police complaint, ISF members and supporters attempted to set up a permanent protest stage without any prior permission from the Kolkata Police. This attempt to establish an unapproved demonstration point in a busy public area was deemed a violation of regulations and a potential threat to law and order.

When a police team arrived at the scene to dismantle the unauthorized stage, they were reportedly met with hostility from the protesters. The crowd, in a sudden turn of events, allegedly attacked the police, initiating a scuffle that quickly escalated and spiraled out of control, causing widespread chaos.

The confrontation turned the Dharmatala Metro Channel into a veritable battlefield, with protestors and police in a face-off. The unruly behavior of the ISF supporters not only disrupted vehicular traffic and public movement but also created an atmosphere of fear and panic among daily commuters and local residents.

The protest was organized to draw attention to what the ISF has labeled as "SIR-Wakf," a term used to describe their grievances related to government policies concerning special intensive voter revision and Wakf properties. The protest, intended to be a show of strength, has instead highlighted the volatile nature of political demonstrations in the city.