Bulldozer protest meet turns violent in Kolkata | Lathi charge at Park Circus 7-point
High tension gripped South Kolkata’s prominent Park Circus Seven-Point crossing on Sunday when a massive crowd from the Muslim community gathered to protest against rumored bulldozer operations and demolition drives. The agitators blockaded the crucial traffic intersection, raised slogans against the administration, and compared the perceived threat of forced evictions to controversial demolition drives in other states. The situation quickly escalated, leading to a confrontation between the demonstrators and law enforcement personnel stationed at the spot to maintain public order.
According to ground reports, the mobilization was triggered by an anonymous poster circulated widely across various social media platforms over the past 48 hours. The digital pamphlet urged citizens to gather at Park Circus to protect their housing rights under the banner of defensive solidarity, though it notably lacked the name of any formal socio-political organization, registered NGO, or prominent local leader. As the unorganized crowd grew restive and completely disrupted the city's vehicular movement, the police had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the gathering and clear the arterial roads.
Reacting strictly to the volatile development, the Imam of Nakhoda Masjid, Maulana Mohammad Shafi'a, issued a strong statement questioning the rationale behind the sudden agitation. The senior cleric expressed deep concern over how hundreds of common citizens chose to take to the streets based purely on an unverified online appeal that lacked legitimate leadership or organizational backing. He firmly appealed to the Muslim community to always respect the law of the land, avoid falling prey to anonymous provocations, and stay away from unlawful assemblies that disrupt public peace.
Malika Begum, who came out of her residence after hearing about the trouble, said, “There is a need for more representation from minority communities in the legislature. That will help every community foster ties and spread harmony,” she said.
