Kolkata Police have filed a suo motu complaint against the Mamata Banerjee-led faction in Trinamool Congress, accusing the latter of “contempt of court” while organising the Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21 at the Cathedral Road in front of Birla Planetarium in Central Kolkata.
KOLKATA — Kolkata Police have filed a suo motu complaint against the Mamata Banerjee-led faction in Trinamool Congress, accusing the latter of “contempt of court” while organising the Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21 at the Cathedral Road in front of Birla Planetarium in Central Kolkata.
In the complaint filed at Hastings Police Station under the South Division of Kolkata Police, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction has been accused of violating the Calcutta High Court order of holding the rally in one lane of Cathedral Road while keeping the other lane free for traffic movements.
An insider from the city police said the Calcutta High Court, while permitting the rally earlier this month, had set two conditions -- fixing the ceiling on the number of participants at 2,500 and conducting the rally in one lane, keeping the other free for public vehicles.
However, as alleged in the complaint filed at the Hastings Police Station, since participants more than the highest permissible number turned up at the said rally, both lanes of Cathedral Road had to be kept closed.
“The Calcutta High Court’s order was clear that the rally should be conducted at one of the two lanes at Cathedral Road. But in reality, after the meeting started, workers and supporters, more than the permissible number, gathered not only on the eastern side of the road but also on the western side. As a result, traffic on that road was obstructed. The police were forced to divert the vehicles to avoid any law and order problem. As a result, the normal traffic movement was disrupted. Since this was a clear violation of the Calcutta High Court's order, it was a contempt of the court; on behalf of the Hastings Police Station, a case has been filed against the conveners and organisers of the rally,” said a city police insider.
Meanwhile, another suo motu complaint has been registered by the police at Hastings Police Station on the alleged vandalism at the stage of the Cathedral Road rally on the night of July 20. In his complaint, it was reported that on the night of July 20, a group of around 15 two-wheeler-borne youths came near the rally venue, raised slogans and started a disturbance in the area, tearing banners.
Being chased by the cops present there, they escaped, abandoning two motorcycles at the spot, which the police recovered. The police said that attempts are on to identify these youths.