Kolkata, Oct. 9 -- In a fresh allegation of police action against protesters, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) West Bengal on Friday claimed that four of its activists, including Sheikh Abdul Hafeez, were detained again while attempting to leave for Delhi to participate in an October 10 protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
According to the outfit, Abdul Hafeez, Sananda Ghosh, Sana Rahaman and Habibul Islam reached Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport in Durgapur to board a flight to Delhi when they were detained by police. The development came a day after the four activists and another CJP member were allegedly detained for over 13 hours from a hotel in New Town, Bidhannagar, while preparing to travel to the national capital by train. Speaking to Millennium Post on Friday afternoon, Hafeez alleged that police personnel were obstructing their attempts to reach the airport from railway stations.
"We are being stopped from reaching the airport from every Railway station. Still, we are trying to reach Delhi. But we fear that we will be detained again," he said.
The CJP has alleged that its activists across several districts, including Howrah, Malda, East Midnapore and West Midnapore, were being targeted to prevent them from joining the protest. The organisation also claimed that police had visited the homes of activists and threatened their family members to dissuade them from travelling to Delhi.
On Thursday, the outfit had alleged that its activists were physically assaulted during their detention in New Town, with women members allegedly subjected to misconduct by male police personnel. Hafeez had subsequently posted videos on Instagram showing what appeared to be injuries sustained by some of the women. The organisation further alleged that the activists were pressured into recording statements denying police misconduct.
Condemning the fresh detentions, the CJP and several Left groups demanded the immediate release of the members and accused the police of attempting to prevent activists from participating in a peaceful democratic protest.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.