A reported attack on a left-wing bookstall during its setup near Dhakuria bus stand in south Kolkata left two people injured on Wednesday evening, according to CPI(ML) Liberation leaders, who accused BJP supporters of carrying out the assault. The allegation has not been independently established in the supplied report.
The bookstall was being assembled in front of the Dhakuria bus stand, where CPI(ML) Liberation, CPI and CPI(M) workers have reportedly operated stalls for nearly four decades. The incident took place while the CPI(ML) Liberation stall was being prepared ahead of the festival period.
According to the CPI(ML) Liberation, a group of people arrived while the stall was being erected and assaulted party workers. The party said its state committee member Babun Chattopadhyay and 88-year-old Amalendu Choudhury were among those subjected to physical assault and verbal abuse. Chattopadhyay suffered a serious eye injury, the report said.
The injured workers and supporters were taken to Baghajatin Hospital for treatment. CPI leader Prabir Deb said the CPI and CPI(M) were scheduled to decorate their stalls on Thursday, while the CPI(ML) Liberation was preparing its stall when the alleged attack occurred.
Following the incident, the CPI, CPI(M) and CPI(ML) Liberation jointly demonstrated outside Lake police station. Local leaders said a complaint had already been lodged with the police, and representatives of the left parties were expected to visit the station again on Thursday.
The incident has also raised questions about the ability of political and cultural organisations to use established public locations for temporary bookstalls during festival periods. The supplied report does not include a police account, details of arrests, the sections of law invoked, or information on whether any counter-complaint was filed.
Separately, CPI(ML) Liberation leaders alleged that they were not allowed to set up a bookstall near Dunlop Bridge after approaching Baranagar police station for permission. In another incident reported the same evening, unidentified miscreants allegedly obstructed the setting up of an SUCI bookstall at Mantan in Behala.
The police response to the Dhakuria complaint, including any investigation or action against those named in the allegations, remains to be established. The left parties were expected to return to Lake police station on Thursday.
