A 25-year-old woman, a civil engineer by profession, staged a “dharna” in front of the residence of the inspector-in-charge of Malda police station in Malda on Monday, alleging that the cop had turned up at her home on Sunday night “directing” her not to join Tuesday’s march to Nabanna led by the Chhatra Samaj.

“Last night (Sunday), the inspector-in-charge reached my home and asked me if I’d join the march to Nabanna and told me I should not join it. He also asked me to show the caller list of my phone and claimed I was encouraging people to join the march,” said Sonali Pal, a resident of Palpara under ward 19 of Old Malda municipality.

On Tuesday, the “apolitical” Chhatra Samaj plans to take a mega rally to Nabanna to protest the August 9 rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar hospital. Reportedly, the protest has the support of the BJP.

“The police officer couldn’t show me any paper to validate his visit to my house. India is a free country. I have the right to join any programme. He cannot restrict my movement. That is why I sat in dharna in front of his residence in protest,” Pal added.

Pal claimed she was not associated with any political party.

At 9am, she reached inspector Mouman Chakraborty’s rented home and sat
on “dharna.”

Her sit-in prompted a group of police officers to reach the spot. They spoke to her and could finally persuade her to withdraw her protest around 12.30pm.

Chakraborty refused to comment on the issue.

A senior police officer, however, rubbished Pal’s allegation.

“It is a false allegation. If she had any complaint, she should have gone to the police station instead of causing inconvenience to the residents of the house (with her dharna),” said the officer.