A doctor with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) medical team deployed at the Durga Puja carnival on Red Road was detained by police and questioned for several hours on Tuesday allegedly because he was sporting a badge that identified him as one on a symbolic fast.

Tapabrata Roy, a medical officer in the KMC’s Ward 123, was taken to Maidan police station around 4pm and released around 7pm.

Roy wore a badge saying “Pratiki Anashankari”, which means he was on a symbolic fast. He also wore a black T-shirt that had the words “shirdnara bikri nei (backbone not for sale)” printed on it.

“I was first told to show my pass for joining the carnival as a medical team member. Then I was taken to a spot where my pictures were clicked. I was asked to show my papers and was taken to Maidan police station after background checks,” Roy told reporters after his release from the police station.

“No clear explanation was given about why I was taken to the police station for questioning. My mobile phone was taken away while I was being detained at the police station.”

Senior officers of Kolkata Police did not issue any statement on Roy’s detention.

Soon after Roy was taken to the police station, members of the Bengal chapter of the Indian Medical Association said he had been illegally detained.

Several of them gathered outside the police station, near the Exide crossing, and greeted Roy with cheers after he was released.

A section of protesting junior doctors said the police could not suppress their movement through such acts of intimidation and harassment.