Kolkata, March 16 Members of the BJP staged a protest outside the Girish Park police station in north Kolkata on Monday to protest the arrests of their supporters in connection with the clashes that occurred ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally here on March 14.
Around 300 BJP workers clashed with the police and crossed three barricades placed in front of the police station during the protest.
Police personnel deployed at the spot tried to stop the protesters, but they moved forward and attempted to enter the premises, officials said.
"All nine arrested are members of our party. The violence and stone-throwing were instigated by supporters of the Trinamool Congress in the area, who are followers of local MLA and minister Shashi Panja, to prevent our men from attending Modi's rally," a BJP leader from the area alleged.
Earlier, BJP leader Sajal Ghosh claimed that the attack on supporters heading to the rally was carried out by TMC loyalists of Panja.
"The supporters bound for the rally were attacked without provocation by TMC supporters. Our workers have been falsely implicated because they are active BJP members," he alleged.
The clash took place on Saturday when BJP workers were heading to Modi's rally at Brigade Parade Ground.
Members of the saffron party alleged that TMC supporters attacked the buses in which its workers were travelling.
The TMC rejected the allegations, claiming that the BJP workers attacked Panja's house at Girish Park.