Kolkata, June 8 -- Railway authorities carried out a late-night anti-encroachment drive at Jadavpur Station on Sunday, demolishing shops and structures on Railway land amid protests by hawkers, local residents, Left and Congress activists. Several protesters, including CPI(M) leader Srijan Bhattacharyya, were arrested during the operation. Meanwhile, affected shopkeepers moved the Calcutta High Court on Monday, challenging the eviction.

The demolition began shortly after midnight, following hours of tension around Jadavpur Station and the adjoining 212 bus stand area. Kolkata Police, Railway Protection Force personnel and Central Forces were deployed as bulldozers moved in to clear structures.

Left and Congress activists, along with some Jadavpur University students, had gathered at the site from Sunday evening after reports emerged that the Railways would proceed with the eviction. Some protesters lay in front of bulldozers while others climbed onto the machines in an attempt to halt the operation.

Police allegedly resorted to a lathi charge before the demolition began. Protest organisers claimed at least 13 people were injured. Thespian Joyraj Bhattacharya was among those injured and reportedly sustained a head injury.

Alipore court on Monday granted bail to Bhattacharyya and others arrested during the protest. Shopkeepers affected by the demolition also approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the eviction drive.

The matter is likely to be heard on Tuesday. The protesters maintained that the eviction should not be carried out without rehabilitation.

They cited a 1988 court order which, they claimed, required rehabilitation measures before any eviction. According to them, talks with Railway authorities last week had led to an understanding that relevant documents would be submitted after the courts reopened on June 8.

A similar eviction attempt on June 2 was called off following discussions between the two sides. Fresh protests continued on Monday, with Left student organisations, including the SFI, holding rallies near Jadavpur station and the 8B bus stand area and staging a sit-in outside Gate No. 4 of JU against the eviction drive, the alleged police lathicharge and the arrests.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.