Adhikari Links Kolkata Unrest to Foreign Interference and Fundamentalist Groups
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari alleges that recent violence in Kolkata was orchestrated by Islamic fundamentalists rather than student activists. The state has now invoked the Goonda Act for the first time following clashes that led to 14 arrests.
Security Investigation Targets Extraneous Actors
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari asserted on Sunday, July 26, 2026, that the violent disturbances rocking Kolkata two days prior were not the result of student grievances. Addressing the media, Adhikari alleged that Islamic fundamentalists, potentially aided by foreign entities, infiltrated the demonstrations targeting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak. He clarified that investigators are currently examining external links to the unrest.
According to the Chief Minister, the individuals involved in the July 24 clashes were not legitimate students. He stated that approximately 70 people have been identified as participants in the violence. Adhikari suggested the agitation served as a retaliation against the nationalist administration’s recent legal measures enacted over the past ten weeks.
First Application of the Goonda Act
In a significant legal escalation, the state government has invoked the Goonda Act against the accused, marking the first use of this preventive detention law in West Bengal. This statute allows authorities to hold individuals for up to 12 months. The 14 individuals currently in custody appeared before a city court on Sunday, where they were remanded to police custody for two days. While the defense questioned why arrests were localized to Kolkata despite nationwide NEET protests, Adhikari emphasized the specific criminal nature of the city's events.
Attacks on Press and Political Counter-Moves
- Six of the seven active cases stemming from the riot were filed by journalists who reported being assaulted and heckled by the mob.
- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its coalition partners have scheduled counter-rallies for Monday, July 27.
- On Tuesday, July 28, a coalition of organizations including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal will conduct further demonstrations.
The violence on Friday saw security forces deploy tear gas and baton charges to manage crowds that had turned aggressive. The Chief Minister maintains that the core of the movement has been hijacked by entities seeking to destabilize local governance through fundamentalist ideologies.
Source: The Hindu — Home
