Police lathicharge on BJP workers holding bike rallies in Kolkata

Kolkata: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists, who participated in party's 'Vijay Sankalp' bile rallies, were lathicharged and detained by police in several parts of West Bengal here on Sunday.

BJP President Amit Shah, on Friday, had launched the Vijay Sankalp rally as part of the party’s nationwide outreach campaign, ahead of elections.

A senior Kolkata police officer said that BJP was not authorised to hold any such rally citing the board examinations and traffic issues. The police action came after they went against the authorities.

In Kolkata, police intercepted rallies on Central Avenue, Jorabagan, Kakurgachi and other important points, while disruptions were reported from North 24 Parganas, Howrah, West Burdwan and West Medinipur districts.

In West Medinipur’s Goaltore area, BJP activists tried to break police barricades, leading to lathicharge and scuffle, leaving several people injured.

“We have detained eight BJP workers,” an officer of Goaltore police station said.

In Durgapur, the activists scuffled with the police, following which Rapid Action Force (RAF) was called in.

State BJP President Dilip Ghosh said around 100 such rallies were being organised in Bengal.

“I have flagged off a rally in Durgapur. Workers are being arrested and such arrests will take place everywhere. But we will be successful,” he said.