West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari warned that stone-pelting and attacks on police in Kolkata will not be tolerated and ordered strict arrests.
The warning follows recent violence in the Park Circus area, where protests over a ban on street namaz escalated into clashes. The government's response signals a zero-tolerance approach to civil unrest and the use of religious slogans during rioting to maintain public order.
Adhikari said he will not sit in an air-conditioned room and watch the spectacle unfold. He said that those who pick up stones, engage in hooliganism, or shout religious slogans will not be tolerated [1].
The Chief Minister compared the planned crackdown to security measures used in another region. He said that stone-pelting has been given a stern warning and will be ended just as it was in Kashmir [2].
According to official reports, the unrest resulted in injuries to security forces. Six police personnel were injured during the incidents [3], while two CRPF personnel also sustained injuries [3]. Authorities have since arrested 40 people in connection with the violence [3].
Adhikari's directives emphasize a shift toward aggressive policing to prevent further escalation in the city. He said the state will take all necessary actions to ensure that such disruptions do not recur in the streets of Kolkata.
“I will not sit in AC and watch the spectacle”
The invocation of the 'Kashmir model' suggests the West Bengal government may employ more stringent security protocols and a harder line on arrests to deter urban unrest. By linking religious slogans to criminal hooliganism, the administration is prioritizing the restoration of law and order over the specific grievances tied to the street namaz ban.
