Nabanna Abhiyan: Jobless teachers gather in huge numbers at Howrah station, police gears up to tackle them

For the second time within a week, jobless teachers in West Bengal launched a march towards Nabanna, the state’s administrative headquarters, with demands for the publication of the eligible-ineligible candidate list and reinstatement through review petitions. The protest was organised by the ‘Yogyo Shikshak-Shikshika Adhikar Mancha’ and was scheduled for Monday. On Thursday last week, a similar Nabanna Abhiyan was carried out by jobless education workers.

In anticipation of the protest, Howrah City Police implemented strict security measures to prevent protesters from reaching Nabanna. Barricades were installed across key approach roads, including GT Road near Howrah Maidan and Foreshore Road at the Bansatala Ghat crossing. At these points, police dug up parts of the road and cemented large iron barricades directly onto the surface to block any advance. The entire Nabanna zone was placed under surveillance with the deployment of CCTV cameras and drones.

Additional police forces, RAF combat units, and water cannons were stationed in the area. Traffic congestion increased significantly on Foreshore Road due to the setup of tall barricades and guardrails, which narrowed road space. The state administration remained on alert throughout the day, with instructions in place to maintain order and prevent any breach of the security perimeter around Nabanna.