KOLKATA: Five CPI-M workers, including All India General Secretary of SFI Srijan Bhattacharya, were granted bail by Alipore court on Monday afternoon after being arrested during protest over a midnight eviction drive targeting hawkers at Jadavpur railway station in Kolkata.
The CPI-M’s Bengal leadership alleged that police resorted to lathi-charge against demonstrators, injuring party leader like Sujan Chakraborty, a Central Committee member of the party and several SFI activists.
The injured with profuse bleeding were rushed to the nearby KPC Medical college Hospital. The eviction drive began shortly after midnight at the railway station prompting hawkers, locals led by CPI-M to protest against the operations carried out by the railway authorities.
Local Congress workers were also seen protesting against the drive. With deployment of bulldozers large number of alleged illegal constructions come up along the railway station were demolished.
Armed Kolkata Police personnel, Rapid Action Force (RAF), Central forces and Railway Protection Force were deployed during the night-long operation.
“Five people were arrested in connection with the protests,” a police officer said. The CPM claimed that police used force against protesting hawkers and party members, including, Chakraborty and Srijan.
"Multiple comrades suffered head injuries from the lathi blows," the CPM said in a statement. Following the arrests and the alleged lathicharge, SFI supporters staged a dharna on Raja S C Mullick Road near Jadavpur University, close to the railway station, demanding the release of those detained and protesting the police action.
The Left party leadership also demanded that authorities ensure proper rehabilitation of hawkers before carrying out any eviction drive. The issue of hawker evictions from railway land has drawn political attention in recent days.
The accused Left workers, including Srijan, were granted bail after they were produced before the court by police on Monday afternoon.
“The railway authorities without making any alternative arrangements for rehabilitation of hawkers have carried out the eviction drive. It’s a highly illegal move taken by the railway because they have ignored the judiciary and law of the country. We are fighting for the poor hapless people,” Srijan said after getting bail.
Last week, CPM MP Amara Ram wrote to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw seeking an immediate halt to the eviction of hawkers from railway stations and railway land in Kolkata and adjoining areas.