In an incident of violence where six journalists were injured in Kolkata over the weekend, eleven people have been arrested when reports last came in.
According to sources in local police administration, around 70 people have been identified in the case related to protest rally led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and several Left-affiliated student organisations.
The Chief Minister of West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari in a statement made in the state assembly stated on Saturday that six journalists were injured and treated at a government hospital following the violence during Friday’s protests.
The Chief Minister earlier in the day said the newly enacted Goonda Suppression Act would be invoked against those accused in the cases, marking the first use of the legislation.
“Yesterday, the kind of attack that took place on our journalist friends from Kolkata—I felt it necessary to inform the Assembly about this matter,” Adhikari said and added that the protest had initially been peaceful but “provocateurs” were allegedly brought in from Kolkata and adjoining areas to disrupt it, and claimed that police exercised restraint despite attempts to provoke them.
“First they started with shoes and bottles, and then targeted the journalists,” the Chief Minister said, adding that six journalists suffered serious injuries.
Adhikari claimed that none of the around 70 people identified in connection with the violence was a student or a self-declared CJP member.
He named five persons whom he described as “goons” and alleged that they were involved in the violence. They were identified as Afroz of Rajabazar, Nahid of Kidderpore, Tanveer and Nizam of Iqbalpur, and Rahul Jamal of Watgunge.
“I am naming these five goons. Under the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Social Activities Act 2026, such action will be taken that not just for a day, but three generations of these goons will remember it,” he said.
The Chief Minister office later stated that seven cases had been registered following the violence. Police sources said media organisations had also lodged complaints over the alleged attacks on journalists.
Kolkata Police Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kunal Aggarwal was quoted stating 11 accused had been arrested so far. “Total 11 accused were arrested in connection with the violence yesterday and attacks on journalists. None of them is a student. They are all troublemakers who were present at the CJP rally yesterday and engaged in vandalism,” Aggarwal said.
The arrested persons were identified as Irfan Khurshed (30), Arshad Ali alias Sajid (50), Md Moinuddin (26), Md Alamgir alias Raju (48), Imran Ahmed alias Gopi (19), Khalid Reja alias Rinku (47), Zamir Ahmed alias Minku (42), Mohsin Khan (30), Dipak Bhowmick alias Vicky (38), Md Azad and Md Afroz.
Police said Azad and Afroz were allegedly trying to flee West Bengal when they were intercepted and arrested on the Durgapur Expressway near Andal.
The violence broke out after the procession reached Dorina Crossing in the Esplanade area, disrupting traffic in central Kolkata for several hours. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters after a section of the crowd allegedly hurled water bottles, shoes and other objects at police personnel and journalists covering the demonstration.
Adhikari condemned the alleged attacks on journalists on behalf of the entire Assembly and said the police had shown restraint despite the provocation. Further investigation into the violence, vandalism and alleged attacks on journalists is underway, a senior Kolkata Police officer said.
