Kolkata Police have registered a suo motu case against the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), alleging that organisers failed to follow the Calcutta High Court’s directions during the party’s Martyrs’ Day rally held on July 21 at Cathedral Road near Birla Planetarium in central Kolkata.
The complaint was lodged at Hastings Police Station under the South Division of Kolkata Police. According to the police, the organisers violated conditions laid down by the Calcutta High Court while granting permission for the political gathering.
High Court had set clear conditions
Before allowing the rally earlier this month, the Calcutta High Court had imposed two important conditions. The court had limited the number of participants to 2,500 and directed that the event should take place only on one lane of Cathedral Road. The second lane was to remain open so that normal traffic could continue without interruption.
Police officials say these conditions were to ensure public convenience and avoid traffic congestion in the busy area.
Police say crowd exceeded approved limit
According to the complaint, the number of people attending the rally went beyond the court-approved limit. As more supporters gathered at the venue, the situation reportedly became difficult to manage.
Police alleged that workers and supporters occupied not just the permitted lane but both sides of Cathedral Road. With the crowd spreading across the entire stretch, traffic movement came to a halt, forcing officers to close both lanes temporarily.
Officials said they had no choice but to divert vehicles to other routes to prevent any law and order issues, resulting in disruption of normal traffic.
‘Contempt of court’ allegation
A senior police insider explained that the High Court’s order had specifically allowed the rally on only one side of Cathedral Road. However, once the programme began, supporters reportedly assembled on both the eastern and western sides of the road.
The police claim this directly violated the court’s instructions. Because of the resulting traffic obstruction and the need to divert vehicles, the organisers have been accused of committing “contempt of court.”
Based on these allegations, Hastings Police Station has registered a case against the conveners and organisers of the July 21 rally.
Separate complaint filed over stage vandalism
Apart from the case related to the rally itself, Kolkata Police have also filed another suo motu complaint regarding an alleged incident of vandalism at the rally venue on the night of July 20.
According to the police report, around 15 youths arrived near the stage on motorcycles late at night. The group allegedly shouted slogans, created a disturbance and tore banners put up for the event.
Police personnel stationed at the venue immediately chased the group, but the youths managed to escape.
While fleeing the area, the suspects allegedly abandoned two motorcycles, which the police later recovered.
(With input from IANS.)