The West Bengal Police strongly denied allegations of a lathi-charge during the confrontation at Bikash Bhavan on Thursday night, where a large group of jobless teachers had gathered to protest. ADG (Law and Order) Javed Shamim and ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar refuted claims of excessive force, calling the narrative of a “brutal lathi-charge” incorrect and misleading.
According to the police, nearly 600 government employees from 58 departments, including a pregnant woman and another individual requiring urgent medical attention, were stranded inside the government complex due to the protest blockade.
"For over seven hours, we showed maximum restraint," said ADG Shamim, addi, “If we truly intended to use force, it could have been done when the protestors broke open the Bikash Bhavan gate in the morning. But the police chose to wait.”
He emphasised that the priority was ensuring the safe passage of the trapped employees, asserting that any force used was “minimal and absolutely necessary.”
Despite the police's claims, several protesters were reportedly injured, with some allegedly seriously hurt during the late-night intervention. Protesters claim the police sounded sirens after 8 pm and began dispersing the peaceful sit-in, leading to chaos and injuries. They have called for a statewide ‘Dhikkar Diwas’ (Day of Condemnation) on Friday, condemning the police action and the state’s handling of their demands.
Shamim maintained that the police were attacked first and claimed that the department possesses video footage that proves the aggression began from the protestors’ side.
ADG Sarkar added further details, citing the instance of the pregnant employee and another woman who broke her leg while attempting to escape by jumping from a height. “The police were left with no option but to act. It was a matter of life and safety,” he said.
The state police said that CCTV footages from the area are being examined and legal action will be taken against individuals responsible for provoking chaos.
Meanwhile, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has already been filed in the Calcutta High Court by a protestor, seeking judicial intervention into the alleged lathi-charge and overall conduct of the police. The case is expected to be heard next week.
Thursday marked the ninth consecutive day of protests by SSC-qualified job aspirants, demanding appointment letters for long-vacant teaching posts. The incident at Bikash Bhavan has only intensified tensions. With the situation escalating legally and politically, observers predict further unrest in the coming days.
As the state prepares for fresh rounds of demonstrations and a likely legal battle, the incident at Bikash Bhavan is rapidly evolving into a flashpoint in West Bengal's administrative and political landscape.
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