• Source:JND
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In the wake of the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital, West Bengal students began their march to the State Secretariat (Navan Abhiyan) in protest against the incident. The protest, which is being be called 'Nabannno Abhijan' rally is being conducted by the student outfit ‘Chhatra Samaj’ to demand the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Anticipating violence during the march, the Bengal government has heightened security with over 6,000 police officials deployed to ensure law and order situation, reported NDTV citing a top official. The report also said that nearly 26 Deputy Commissioners of Police will be on alert at several points in the city.

Ahead of the demonstration, the police deployed vajra vehicles, water cannons, and Riot Control Force in the area while containers were placed to block the roads.

Students' group Chatra Samaj said it was determined to march to the state secretariat Nabanna on Tuesday, seeking justice for the rape and murder of the doctor at RG Kar hospital and demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Employees forum Sangrami Joutho Mancha would also join the 'Nabanna Abhijan' programme in solidarity with the demands. The processions in Howrah would start simultaneously around noon from multiple places -- College Square and Fort William in Kolkata, and Howrah Bridge, Howrah Maidan and Satragachi in Howrah, he said, adding that they have asked everyone to be peaceful and not resort to any provocations of violence.

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Speaking about the protest rally, West Bengal ADG Police (Law & Order) Manoj Kumar Verma called it illegal and said that it was an attempt to incite widespread unrest in Kolkata.

He said, "Nabanna is a restricted area. If any programme is organised here then the organisers should put a request to the police officials and the police will decide after considering the case. So far, no organisation has applied to hold a protest near Nabanna. This is a restricted zone and if anyone needs to organise a protest then they first need to apply for permission from the police...We have very specific inputs that some miscreants might try to create a situation of unrest there (near Nabanna). Tomorrow, an exam is being conducted by NTA, we will ensure that neither aspirants nor the general public are inconvenienced."

Meanwhile, in the latest update in the case, CBI sleuths on Sunday conducted searches on the premises of former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh ex-medical superintendent Sanjay Vashisth and 13 others in and around Kolkata in connection with their probe into alleged financial irregularities at the institute officials said.

(With inputs from agency)