Seven FIRs registered, 11 arrested over violence at CJP-Left student protest in Kolkata

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said 70 people have been identified as involved in the violence, none of whom are students or members of the Cockroach Janta Party; 11 people were arrested in connection with the violence

Kolkata Police have registered seven First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with the violence that erupted in the Esplanade area during a student protest rally led by the Cockroach Janta Party and several left wing students on Friday (July 24, 2026) demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Six FIRs have been registered in connection with attack on media personnel and one is a suo motu case in connection with violence. Eleven people have been arrested so far, police said.

Also Read: Jantar Mantar Protest Update on July 25, 2026

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said in the State Assembly on Saturday (July 25, 2026) that 70 people have been identified who are not students or members of the Cockroach Janta Party. The Chief Minister said these cases would be investigated under the ‘Goonda Act’, a recent law passed by the State Assembly that allows preventive detention for up to 12 months. The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the police in dispersing the mob and read out several names of people arrested in connection with the protest.

The march on Friday started from Sealdah station where thousands of young students and people from different walks of life turned up. However, the peaceful protest turned violent when police used force to disperse the crowd shortly after they reached the Esplanade. The protesters started a dharna at Dorina Crossing in Esplanade, following which the police baton charged and also fired two rounds of tear gas.

In retaliation, protesters threw shoes and bottles at the police. During the clash, several people from both sides were injured as well as several journalists. The RAF and paramilitary forces were also deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

After assessing the entire situation and damages, Kolkata Police registered seven FIRs on Saturday morning. The first FIR was suo motu filed by the Kolkata Police at Hare Street Police Station for alleged provocative speeches and sloganeering by protesters, assault on police personnel and illegal assembly at Dorina Crossing.

No permit: police

Police said the protesters had gathered in the area without any formal permission from the police authority. “They had vehicles with them and used microphones on high volume. They made provocative speeches inciting their followers to encroach on the entire Dorina crossing. The leaders’ constant incitement enraged the crowd, resulting in the entire gathering being very aggressive and unruly,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kunal Aggarwal said.

The police repeatedly asked them to leave the place and keep calm. However, following the leaders’ instructions, the mob started pelting water bottles, shoes, sticks and stones at the police, reporters and passers-by, creating insecurity for common citizens and others, the officer said.

Mr. Aggarwal said some policemen also sustained injuries due to the clash. “As they were good in numbers and tried to provoke the police, they behaved very restrained and maintained order and restricted them in a certain radius. Their act completely paralyzed the regular movement of vehicles and public activities,” he added.

The FIR was lodged under Sections 189(2), 189(4), 189(3), 191(2), 190, 121(1), 132, 285, 352, 223, 3(5) and 3(6) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against several unidentified people.

The other FIRs were against the attack on journalists Rika Purakaysth and Krishnend Majumder of R Plus News, Shiladitya Kar of Ei Samay Publishing, Rahi Halder of Aaj Tak (India Today Group) and Suman Mahapatra, Makhan Chandra Patra and Dipankar Dasgupta of TV9. All are currently undergoing treatment at SSKM Hospital.

The Prime Minister visited the SSKM hospital on Friday evening and met the injured journalists. Mr. Adhikari promised necessary action against attack on media personnel. “Is it an anti-NEET protest? Those who attacked journalists will be punished. Wait for a few days. We have identified them. They have no connection with the NEET protests,” the chief minister said.

He also termed the protestors as anti-national on Friday morning and said that similar activities will not be spared in West Bengal. “We will drive these anti-nationals out of Bengal. If you want to stay here, such activities will not be accepted. I heard that students from Jadavpur University hostel were forced to join this rally. We will not allow that,” he told reporters in response to the protest.

However, all left-wing student associations and the Janta Cockroach Party denied that the protesters had harassed the journalists. In their official statements, they condemned the incident and said that some foreigners, possibly orchestrated by the ruling party, entered the compound and launched a brutal attack on journalists to damage the peaceful protest.

“Many students and protesters are also admitted to hospital. We condemn this attempt to mislead such a peaceful protest. It is shameful how journalists were attacked,” they said in an official statement.

Published – 25 Jul 2026 13:18 IST