Central Kolkata on Wednesday literally turned into a battlefield after protests over atrocities in Nandigram and Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen’s stay in India snowballed into arson and violence.

Armed with lathis and swords, hundreds of agitators belonging to a minority forum clashed with policemen even as the Army stepped in to take charge of the burning city. Many vehicles, including ambulances and state-run buses were set ablaze and so were local offices of the ruling party CPI-M. More than 150 cars were smashed in the city.

Commuters and schoolchildren were the worst hit in the riots as resultant traffic snarls left a large portion of the city choked.

“I got stranded on the roads for over two hours. I have an exam on Thursday but now I am too tired and scared to study,” a worried student said.

Alternate Links

1 votes - The Hindu News Update Service - hindu.com (goutami)