'Those Friday People': Questions Over Who Started Kolkata Protest Violence as Suvendu Targets Muslims |
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Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari invoked the religion-coded expression “Friday people” while announcing the first application of the state’s new anti-Goonda law against people allegedly involved in violence during the July 24 student-youth march in central Kolkata.
The march, organised by eight Left student organisations and joined by the West Bengal unit of the Cockroach Janata Party and other groups, was called to press for Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, the abolition of the National Testing Agency and accountability for the NEET paper leak. Trouble broke out after the largely peaceful procession reached Dorina Crossing. There, shoes, bottles and bricks were thrown at police and several journalists were reportedly targeted.
The Wire spoke to several journalists present at the demonstration who said reporters, including women journalists, were heckled and abused. Videos from the protest showed men surrounding and hounding reporters, obstructing live broadcasts and making obscene gestures. Some journalists suffered physical injuries.
Security personnel baton charge during a joint protest rally by Students Federation of India (SFI) along with Cockroach Janata Party demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Friday, July 24, 2026. Photo: PTI/Manvender Vashist Lav.
The attacks occurred against a backdrop of growing public anger towards sections of the television media accused of disseminating erroneous, sensationalised or communally inflammatory........