At least five people were arrested during protests that erupted over an eviction drive targeting hawkers at Jadavpur railway station in Kolkata early Monday, while the CPM alleged that police resorted to lathicharge against demonstrators, including senior party leaders.
The eviction drive began shortly after midnight at the railway station, police said.
“Five people were arrested in connection with the protests,” a police officer said.
The CPM claimed that police used force against protesting hawkers and party members, including its central committee member Sujan Chakraborty and Students' Federation of India (SFI) state general secretary Srijan Bhattacharya.
"Multiple comrades suffered head injuries from the lathi blows," the CPM said in a statement.
Following the arrests and the alleged lathicharge, SFI supporters staged a dharna on Raja S C Mullick Road near Jadavpur University, close to the railway station, demanding the release of those detained and protesting the police action.
The Left party leadership also demanded that authorities ensure proper rehabilitation of hawkers before carrying out any eviction drive.
Meanwhile, an Eastern Railway official said train services on the Sealdah-Baruipur line, which passes through Jadavpur railway station, remained unaffected and operated normally.
The issue of hawker evictions from railway land has drawn political attention in recent days.
Last week, CPM MP Amara Ram wrote to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw seeking an immediate halt to the eviction of hawkers from railway stations and railway land in Kolkata and adjoining areas.
In his letter, Ram highlighted the longstanding presence of hawkers in and around railway stations across West Bengal, noting that they provide affordable goods and food items to commuters.
“My request to you is to stop these bulldozer actions with immediate effect,” Ram had stated in the letter.