The Kolkata Police had to resort to lathi charge when members of the student wings of the BJP and TMC clashed at the city’s famous College Street while BJP president Amit Shah was holding a roadshow.
Earlier this evening students supporting the TMC gathered at the University of Calcutta gate to wave black flags at Shah, while ABVP supporters were seen chanting “Jai Shree Ram”. The police put iron barricades to keep them separate, but the students broke them and a scuffle broke out.
Matters escalated quickly and the violence spread. A statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagarwas reportedly vandalised at Vidyasagar College, located about a kilometre away and a two wheeler was also reportedly set on fire by miscreants. Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the violent crowd and several people were reported injured.