TRADE Union workers were lathicharged by the state police in districts even when they were protesting against central government policies. There was a call for statewide law violation movement against the central government by all central trade unions and federations. Krishnanagar, Bolpur, Rampurhat, Durgapur witnessed massive lathicharge by the police on the peaceful demonstration of trade union workers. The police brutality was condemned by CITU state president Shyamal Chakraborty and state secretary Dipak Dasgupta. Nearing 50 thousand workers have been arrested.

The law violation movement was organised to protest against the draconian Land Acquisition Bill, Transport Bill placed by the Modi government in the parliament. When the government has completely failed to curb the price rise which seriously effects the working class, such draconian Bills are going to worsen the lives of working class. In such a situation, all central trade unions had called for a law violation programme to launch a statewide protest. In Kolkata, all trade unions organised a central rally from Subodh Mallick Square to Rani Rashmoni Road crossing.

CITU state president Shyamal Chakraborty stated that all trade union workers are on the road to protest against the draconian Land Acquisition Bill, Transport Bill, for a minimum of Rs 15000 per month for every working person, social security for the unorganised working class, against the dilution of labour laws, against atrocities on women etc.

The law violation programme at Rani Rashmoni Road was led by CITU leaders like Shyamal Chakraborty, Dipak Dasgupta, Niranjan Chatterjee, Gargi Chatterjee, Anadi Sahu, UTUC leader Ashok Ghosh, TUCC leader Naren Chatterjee, AITUC leader Ranjit Guha, AICCTU leader Basudeb Basu etc.

Alongside Kolkata the districts also participated in the law violation programme. Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Siliguri, Gangarampur, Maldaha, Berhampur, Krishnanagar, East and West Midnapore, Birbhum, Howrah, Burdwan, Durgapur, Bankura, Purulia, North 24 Parganas, all participated in the law violation programme.

POLICE

ATROCITIES

The state police was noticed to have been atrocious on the movement. They remained brutal particularly in some districts. The worst incident took place at Krishnanagar where police lathicharged injuring hundreds of workers. At least 32 people were injured including CPI(M) MLA SM Shadi, district CITU leader Sadhan Bhattacharya and Altaf Hossain. CITU president Shyamal Chakraborty and secretary Dipak Dasgupta rushed to Krishnanagar hospital to see them. At least 20 people were injured in Bolpur in the lathicharge.