The CPM has filed at least 10 police complaints in Kolkata over alleged attacks, threats and permission disputes involving book stalls being set up outside puja pandals, with Left parties calling for police protection and equal access during the festive season.
The complaints were lodged over the past three days, according to a report by The Times of India. The party alleged that decorators were being threatened or prevented from installing stalls at several locations, while the SUCI(C) said its Sharadiya book stalls had been vandalised in places including Tangra, Behala, Howrah, Behrampore, Bishnupur and Radhakantapur.
The SUCI(C) alleged that banners were torn and books destroyed at some stalls. Party senior Tapan Mukherjee was injured during an attack in Tangra, according to the report. The CPM also alleged that attempts were made to ransack stalls in Behala, Dum Dum and Kasba. A stall in Kasba was reportedly ransacked on Thursday morning, after which party workers restored it and inaugurated it later in the day.
CPM district committee secretary Kallol Majumdar said decorators had faced threats in multiple areas. A party member identified alleged attacks at Pora Ashwattala in Behala, Mahabirtala in New Alipore, Dum Dum and Kasba. The report did not include a response from the individuals or organisations accused of carrying out the attacks.
At a news conference on Friday, CPM state secretary Mohammed Selim appealed to the police and administration to act against those allegedly ransacking stalls or setting fire to structures. He said the party wanted a level playing field for different groups to propagate their views and called for an atmosphere of amity during the festive period.
The dispute also involves permissions and enforcement. Police on Friday dismantled a book stall in Ahiritala, according to the report, after determining that it did not have proper permission. The CPM alleged that police had forcibly shut down or denied permits for stalls in Baranagar, Regent Park and Beleghata. The allegations could not be independently assessed from the material supplied for this report.
Selim said the party would resist attempts to prevent the stalls from opening and warned that its members could take to the streets if the alleged obstruction continued. He also said the party would march to the Election Commission office again on November 5, after the pujas. The immediate administrative response to the complaints and the status of permissions at the affected locations remain key next steps.
