POLICE CHARGING STUDENTS; TEAR GAS FIRED; ARRESTS; DEMONSTRATORS WITH FLAGS; BURNING TRAMCAR.




Initials GEM/V/RM/BB



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Background: SMOKE AND FLAMES FROM BURNING VEHICLES MINGLED WITH TEAR GAS IN THE AIR OF CALCUTTA YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) AS A PLANNED PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION TURNED TO BLOODY VIOLENCE.

THE THIRD DAY OF A CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE CAMPAIGN BROUGHT RIOTING TO FASHIONABLE CHOWRINGHEE, THE BUSTLING HUB OF THE CITY. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF INJURIES AMONG BOTH THE STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS AND POLICE AND TEAR GAS SQUADS AS PROTESTS AGAINST THE DISMISSAL OF WEST BENGAL'S LEFTIST UNITED FRONT GOVERNMENT CONTINUED.

IT WAS THE MOST VIOLENT CLASH OF THE PROTEST CAMPAIGN. A GROUP OF STUDENTS CREATED A DIVERSION BY SHOUTING SLOGANS, WHILE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS CHARGED A POLICE CORDON ROUND THE OFFICIAL RESIDENCE OF THE STATE GOVERNOR.

THE ONRUSH WAS HALTED BY A POLICE COUNTER-CHARGE...AND A RAGING MELEE ENSUED. ONLOOKERS WERE INJURED BY FLYING STONES AND BRICKBATS AND FLAILING POLICE TRUNCHEONS. A TRAMCAR WAS AMONG SEVERAL VEHICLES SET ABLAZE AND TAXIS AND CARS WERE DAMAGED BY A HAIL OF STONE.

POLICE FIRED TEAR GAS REPEATEDLY AS THE STUDENTS SET UP BARRICADES ACROSS CITY STREETS. BY THE END OF THE DAY THE CITY CENTRE WAS LITTERED WITH STONES, BOTTLED, BANNERS AND EMPTY TEAR GAS SHELLS.

MORE THAN 1,600 MEMBERS OF POLITICAL AND WOMEN'S ORGANISATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ARRESTED IN THE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS DUE TO GO ON FOR A WEEK.