Violence erupted during a protest in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district during a protest against the brutal rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last month. A protester was allegedly assaulted by workers of the state's ruling Trinamool Congress party.
The incident took place on Wednesday night in Mathabhanga town during the protest, which was organised as part of the 'Reclaim the Night' campaign to demand justice for the trainee doctor.
Thousands of people participated in the peaceful demonstration that featured songs, poems, and street art to highlight violence against women.
Meanwhile, the protester who was beaten up was identified as Pradyut Saha, a local secretary of the CPM party and an employee of the Mathabhanga municipality.
A local Trinamool Congress leader has denied that workers were involved in the violence, stating that the party had organised a separate protest in the town.
In an effort to maintain law and order, police have been deployed across Mathabhanga.
The opposition BJP has condemned the violence, accusing the Trinamool Congress of suppressing protesters.
In a social media post, Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari strongly condemned the "appalling, disgusting and cowardly attack on the peaceful protesters of Mathabhanga by TMC Block President Biswajit Roy and other TMC goons".
Also condemning the incident, BJP state chief Sukanta Majumdar called the Trinamool Congress "anti-democratic, anti-humanity".
"The notorious forces of Trinamool Congress suddenly attacked the peaceful citizen's protest in Mathabhanga, North Bengal... Pictures were forcibly removed from the street. The police stood silent like a mute spectator! Can you extinguish the fire of protest by stifling democracy using notorious forces, Honorable Chief Minister?" he queried.
On Wednesday night, 'Reclaim the Night' protests took place across West Bengal, with thousands joining to raise their voices to demand justice for the trainee doctor.
However, the protests witnessed incidents of violence due to which the police had to launch a crack-down.
In Barasat, North 24 Parganas, 13 protesters, including women, were arrested at around 3.20 am on Thursday.
