The West Bengal police arrested a DYFI leader on Friday after the ruling TMC released an audio clip that it claimed "unravelled a conspiracy to attack the protesting doctors and blame it on the state government." Kalatan Dasgupta was arrested by the Kolkata Police on Friday.
This came after TMC leader Kunal Ghosh released an audio clip on Friday, which he said "proved the alleged move by opposition parties to attack the doctors" who are protesting the rape and murder of the trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College Hospital. Ghosh told reporters on Friday that the clip, the authenticity of which has not been verified by THE WEEK, allegedly has Dasgupta conspiring with the leader of an ultra-Left organisation to attack the sit-in of the doctor and pin it on the state government after Friday's deadlock.
This purported leaked audio indicates that some were allegedly planning to attack the protesting #doctors yesterday after ‘failed talks’ between them and #MamataBanerjee, so that “state could be framed as villain”. Police have registered a complaint, sources say voices reportedly… pic.twitter.com/aC3QJQmpFk
— Tamal Saha (@Tamal0401) September 13, 2024
He also went to X to urge the police to stop the entry of outsiders there immediately.
Following this, the Bidhannagar City Police registered a case following which an individual Sanjeev Das was arrested on Friday. Dasgupta, the editor of the DYFI mouthpiece and the district committee member of the CPI(M), was arrested later.
However, the left alleges there was a conspiracy behind the arrests. Dasgupta told reporters: "There is definitely a conspiracy behind this. If not, why is the focus diverted from the real movement for victim justice?"
CPM leader and former minister Anadi Sau commented that the police can be called on the basis of speculation, but nothing can be said without proof. According to police sources, the cyber crime department is also investigating the viral audio.
Samik Lahiri, a member of the CPM's state committee, accused the government of trying to suppress the protest. He, however, refused to comment on the audio clip.
The CPI(M) has also urged the Kolkata Police to verify the authenticity of the audio clip and how Ghosh got it.
Meanwhile, prohibitory orders around the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have been extended till September 30. The orders, which were first imposed on August 18, restrict gatherings of more than five people in the designated area. "Carrying sticks, dangerous and lethal weapons are banned and any attempt to disturb peace and tranquillity will invite legal prosecution under Section 223 of the BNS," it said.
