Kolkata, February 26 – A massive protest erupted in Siliguri, West Bengal, on Thursday after a tribal pregnant woman was beaten by a civic volunteer, resulting in the death of the unborn child, officials said.
On Thursday afternoon, members of the tribal community staged a protest at the "Uttarkanya" (branch secretariat of the West Bengal government in North Bengal).
The tribal protesters attempted to move forward by climbing over the police barricade.
When the police tried to stop the protesters, a scuffle broke out between the two sides.
The situation became tense as the police had to use tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
According to police and local sources, the incident began over a dispute regarding land acquisition.
A month ago, there was unrest between the two sides over the acquisition of a piece of land near Siliguri.
In this incident, a civic volunteer, Mohammad Kader, was accused of beating a pregnant woman.
The police had arrested the civic volunteer, Mohammad Kader.
However, four people involved in the incident are still missing.
Recently, the woman lost her unborn child, which enraged the tribal community, leading to the protest on Thursday.
The protesters demanded severe punishment for the accused civic volunteer.
A large police force was deployed to control the situation.
After some time, the situation was brought under control.
"Some protesters gathered here and organized a protest. It continued for some time. Later, the situation was brought under control," a senior officer of the Siliguri Police Commissionerate said.
The West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit also condemned the incident and demanded exemplary punishment for the accused.
"There is a lot of tension surrounding the 'Uttarkanya Abhiyan' called by 'Janajati Suraksha Mancha' demanding justice for the victim in Siliguri's Phulbari. As the procession progresses, there are scuffles with the police using cane charge, water cannons and tear gas – the area takes on the appearance of a battlefield as usual," the BJP said in a statement.
"Protesters are demanding the arrest of the accused and security for beating a pregnant woman. The movement will continue if justice is not provided," it added.
