Kolkata book stall demolition attempt halted by protesters

A confrontation occurred in Kolkata’s Jadavpur area on Saturday when a Kolkata Municipal Corporation team, accompanied by police and central forces, attempted to demolish a Communist Party of India (Marxist) book stall. The demolition attempt was halted after party workers, local residents, and students gathered to oppose the move, forcing the bulldozer to retreat.

CPM state committee member Sudip Sengupta stated that the party had obtained all necessary permissions from the Kolkata Police, the municipal corporation, and for electricity usage. He alleged that officials attempted to clear the site while the court was on vacation. The incident follows a similar demolition of a book stall in the nearby Dhakuria area.

Left parties, including the CPI (ML) Liberation, have criticized the actions, accusing the BJP and RSS of targeting their stalls. These book stalls have been a traditional feature of Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal for over five decades.