Police have flagged the possibility of violence during Tuesday’s planned march to state secretariat Nabanna, called by the shadowy Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj, and cited videos to claim an intent to foment trouble during the “illegal” programme.

Trinamool, worried about possible flare-ups during the allegedly BJP-backed rally, called it an attempt to “incite extensive unrest” and accused the saffron ecosystem of the “vulturesque” politics of plotting deaths in police firing.

Additional director-general of police (south Bengal) Supratim Sarkar on Monday dubbed the planned march “illegal” and said it lacked the approvals necessary for any public gathering.

In the evening, the police formally denied permission for Tuesday’s Nabanna Abhiyan, called by the Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj with the equally nebulous Sangrami Joutha Mancha piggybacking on it.

Why ‘illegal’

The police said they had received emails from these two outfits informing them about a march to Nabanna, and had denied permission because “mere intimation” is not enough.

“The police contacted them several times over the phone and through email and requested them to seek permission formally for the rally, sharing all the details. But they have not done that,” Sarkar said.

“Mere intimation is not enough. A formal permission has to be taken. We have rejected their application. We have also refused the Sangrami Joutha Mancha the permission to march to Nabanna from the Howrah side.”

While seeking formal permission for a meeting or a march, the organisers have to declare their name, address, political affiliation (if any), the number of expected participants, the date, route, a list of volunteers who would be present during the programme, and their contact numbers. A form needs to be filled in and submitted at the police headquarters.

‘Misinterpretation’

Sarkar said some people were misinterpreting and misrepresenting the Supreme Court’s observations to try and push the police on the back foot.

The apex court had said the police should not take coercive action against peaceful protesters. But Sarkar reminded reporters that the court had also said: “This court has not injuncted the state from exercising such lawful powers as entrusted in terms of the law.”

Sarkar added: “This means that although the honourable court had instructed the police not to interfere in peaceful protests related to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital incident, that does not mean that the police cannot execute the law.”

Apprehensions

ADG (law and order) Manoj Verma said the police have intelligence that there will be trouble during the rally.

The police said it was a “sinister political conspiracy” in the garb of a students’ protest, whose intent was to create mayhem and trigger a violent police intervention, leading to more chaos.

“We have serious apprehension of law-and-order (problems).... We have concrete information that some mischief-makers plan to take advantage of the emotions of the common people and well-intentioned citizens,” Sarkar said.

“They will try to create large-scale violence, chaos and disturbance to an extent that the police are compelled to use force.”

Sarkar said the police had “specific intel about (such) conspiracies” and were identifying the plotters.

“Appropriate action will be taken…. The safety and security of the people is paramount, and non-negotiable,” he said.

Videos

The police cited videos that appeared to show men talking about the possibility of violence and deaths during the march.

“Du-ekta body toh porbei (One or two people are sure to get killed),” a man purportedly says in one of the videos, apparently recorded during a sting operation by Trinamool.

In another video, a man appears to be saying that spilling blood is important to bring about change.

On Monday evening, the police said they had identified a hotel off the EM Bypass where two leaders of the Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj allegedly met a politician on Sunday.

“They went to meet the leader inside the hotel at 11.45am. We have all the details of the leader and the room number where the meeting was held. If necessary, we will share all the details with the court,” Sarkar said.

Exams

Thousands of students are to take the UGC-NET on Tuesday, with the exams to be conducted from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 3pm to 6pm.

“We are receiving emails and calls. Anxious students want to know whether they would face problems reaching the exam centres,” Sarkar said.

“If anyone faces any problem, please contact the police. We will ensure the security of all the students and ensure they reach the exam centres without problem. Extra buses will ply from Howrah Station.”

Verma said that if any student faced any problem because of the rally, they should contact the police by dialling 100 or 112.

“Students can dial 100 or 112. They can also contact their nearest police station or the police on the roads. There will be adequate police presence on the roads tomorrow (Tuesday),” Verma said.

‘Alternative venue’

The police said they had requested the organisers to choose any other venue for their protest other than the state secretariat, whose immediate periphery is perpetually under “prohibitory orders” (bans on assemblies).

“We have identified other locations where peaceful protests can be carried out,” Sarkar said.

“The state secretariat is a high-security zone. It is under prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS, which is equivalent to Section 144 of the CrPC.”