KP lodges attempt-to-murder charge, set to move court against BJP netas
Times of India | 12 August 2025
Kolkata: The Kolkata Police on Monday said it will move court to lodge more FIRs against "important political leaders" whom they claim "incited violence, threatened, and actively encouraged vandalism" in the Esplanade-Park Street crossing zone last Saturday during the Nabanna Abhijan. Police said attempt-to-murder charge has also been drawn up for the assault on an on-duty cop.
BJP on Sunday claimed names of their functionaries like Ashok Dinda, Agnimitra Paul and Kaustuv Bagchi — who were seen at the JL Nehru Road clash point — were named in the suo motu complaints by police.
On Sunday, Lalbazar had issued a photograph of Prasanta Poddar (36), the security guard of DC SSD Bidhisha Kalita, being pinned to the ground by a protester while another protester was seen stomping his head. Sometime later he was seen being rescued and escorted away by policemen while he was bleeding from his head.
In total, five policemen were injured. Apart from Poddar, two others — ASI Jagabandhu Saha (58) and home guard Chaitanya Mahanta (30) — were also admitted at the Trauma care centre of the hospital. Two other policemen — constable Nimai Mondal (44) of Tollygunge traffic guard and constable Mithun Ghosh (38) of Shakespeare Sarani PS — were discharged after preliminary treatment at hospital.
"A competent court of law is being moved for the registration of two more cases against some leaders/supporters of a political party after obtaining necessary permissions," stated Kolkata Police on its Facebook page.
Sources claimed that at least three sitting MLAs are on the list of leaders against whom the Kolkata Police plans to initiate legal action. Cops said that evidence collected so far suggests that though the protest call was for a cause — to seek "justice" for RG Kar victim — there were plans to incite violence, a clear violation of the Calcutta High Court order. "We have strong grounds to move court," said a senior cop at Lalbazar.
Meanwhile, the cops have made public the five FIRs registered so far. "In connection with violations of law and order during protests held on Aug 9 by certain groups, multiple cases have been registered. A total of five FIRs were registered (4 in New Market PS, 1 in Hare Street PS) against some leaders/supporters of a political party," the police wrote on its social media page, as reported by TOI on both Saturday and Sunday.
"The first FIR is for violating HC orders by not going to RR Avenue and taking a procession towards Park Street. The second FIR pertains to creating a ruckus at the ‘rakhi' stall of another party," the Kolkata Police stated.
The third FIR is supposed to be the most serious one and pertains to "brutally assaulting a police constable by causing him head injuries," said police sources. Thus, the accused in this case was charged for attempt to murder.
The fourth case pertains to vandalising the office of hawkers' union and the fifth one is related to damaging the camera of a media person and forcefully confining him.
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