The West Bengal government has invoked the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, commonly known as the Goonda Act, against those accused of orchestrating violence during a student protest in Kolkata, marking the first time the legislation has been used since its enactment.
The move follows clashes that broke out during Friday’s march in central Kolkata over alleged failures in the education sector under the Narendra Modi government, including the NEET-UG paper leak. The demonstration, organised by Left-affiliated student organisations with support from the Kolkata unit of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), began at Sealdah and proceeded towards Dorina Crossing before violence erupted near Esplanade.
Making a statement in the Assembly on Saturday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said around 70 people identified from the Dharmatala protest were not students and had no connection with the organisations that had called the march.
“They are not students, nor are they members of the organisation that called the programme. They came only to create disorder,” Adhikari said, adding that action would be taken against them under the Goonda Act.
According to the chief minister, seven FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence, while 11 people have been arrested from Kolkata and adjoining areas. The state government said ten of those arrested are Muslims. Police identified one of the accused as Md Afroz, a resident of Metiabruz, who was arrested from Andal.
Adhikari strongly condemned the alleged assault on journalists covering the protest, describing attacks on media personnel as unacceptable and saying the newly enacted law would be used to ensure stringent action against those responsible.
“I censure the attack on our journalist friends on behalf of the entire House. An attack on journalists is unacceptable. We will take such action under the Goonda Act that these goons and even their next three generations will remember it. This is precisely why this law was enacted,” he said.
The chief minister alleged that as the procession reached Esplanade, some protesters first hurled shoes and water bottles at police personnel before targeting journalists. He further claimed that those involved intended to provoke a police lathicharge and the use of tear gas, but Kolkata Police exercised restraint despite the provocation.
Police alleged that a section of protesters attacked security personnel with slippers, sticks and other objects while also assaulting journalists covering the demonstration.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), however, condemned the attacks on journalists while rejecting allegations that its members were responsible for the violence. SFI state secretary Debanjan Dey alleged that “agent provocateurs” linked to the BJP had infiltrated the protest to derail the movement and tarnish the image of student organisations.
Dey also accused Kolkata Police of using tear gas shells and batons against peaceful demonstrators, claiming several members of Left student and youth organisations sustained injuries and were receiving treatment at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.
Alleging BJP involvement in the violence, Dey claimed video footage showed “saffron-clad BJP workers” throwing stones from atop a fire brigade vehicle and from the Moulali Yuva Kendra, where a BJP workers’ meeting was allegedly being held.
“When the students occupied Dorina Crossing, these agent provocateurs started throwing stones, shoes, sticks and bottles, molested girl students, and assaulted journalists,” Dey alleged, urging the administration to conduct an impartial investigation instead of “making hate speeches.”
Reacting to the arrests, Ratna Singh, spokesperson of the Cockroach Janta Party, said the party had received reports that protesters had been detained by both the Assam Police and West Bengal Police.
“It is also being alleged that many of those detained are Muslims. If these reports are accurate, any targeting of individuals on the basis of religion would be unlawful and deeply concerning,” Singh said.
