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No religious sloganeering, pelting of stones will be allowed, Suvendu warns protesters
No religious sloganeering, pelting of stones will be allowed, Suvendu warns protesters ‘I am giving a clear message that there will be zero tolerance towards this kind of unrest, hooliganism and anti-national, anti-social activities,’ the newly elected West…
No religious sloganeering, pelting of stones will be allowed, Suvendu warns protesters
‘I am giving a clear message that there will be zero tolerance towards this kind of unrest, hooliganism and anti-national, anti-social activities,’ the newly elected West Bengal Chief Minister says
Updated – May 19, 2026 11:19 am IST – KOLKATA
Shiv Sahay Singh,Shrabana Chatterjee
Police officials carry out a lathi charge on a protester after the clash erupts between locals and police at Kolkata’s Park Circus Seven-Point Crossing, in Kolkata on May 17, 2026.
| Photo Credit: ANI
A day after violence broke out in the Park Circus area here, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday (May 18, 2026) said that no pelting of stones or religious sloganeering would be allowed.
Mr. Adhikari, who met police personnel injured in Sunday’s (May 17, 2026) violence at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police at Park Circus, issued a strict warning to protesters.
“I am giving a clear message that there will be zero tolerance towards this kind of unrest, hooliganism and anti-national, anti-social activities. We will not allow such things to continue,” the newly elected Chief Minister said. The CM met with Kolkata Police officers, Southeast Division, to assess law and order in the area.
“We will give you complete support to stop this. Any democratic movement is always welcome, but hooliganism is not allowed by us…..Stay strong and we will give you full cooperation. Raising hand on the police will not be allowed by the present government,” Mr. Adhikari said.
Six police personnel were injured in Sunday’s violence, and 40 protesters have been taken into custody. The protests, which erupted against restrictions on prayers and the use of bulldozers against illegal encroachments, turned violent. Stones were pelted at the police.
Praising the police action, Mr. Adhikari said they had maintained law and order properly, preventing a major tragedy, and protecting people. The police force was efficient and capable but its hands had been tied by the previous regime, the CM said.
“Do not think old rules still apply. If anyone believes the police force will continue to function with tied hands, they are mistaken,” he said.
Referring to allegations of pelting of stones during the protests, the Chief Minister drew a comparison with Kashmir and said such incidents would no longer be tolerated in the State.
“I am making an appeal — do not repeat these things. Take this as the last warning. If such incidents are repeated, no one will be worse than me as the Home Minister,” Mr. Adhikari said.
Promising modernisation of the police force within six months, the CM urged the Centre to retain 40 companies of Central paramilitary forces in West Bengal for some more time.
The first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the State took oath on May 9, after winning 207 of the 294 seats in the West Bengal Assembly. There have reports of a eviction drive on illegal structures and hawkers at the Howrah and Sealdah stations, and in the Tiljala area.
Earlier on Monday, following an announcement of the meeting in the morning, the Chief Minister held his first ‘janata darbar’ (people’s court) event, listening to public grievances and demands at the BJP’s State headquarters in Salt Lake.
Several people, including students and locals, attended the interaction and spoke to the Chief Minister individually behind closed doors, submitting complaints ranging from local civic issues to allegations of syndicate-related pressure.
Only a day ago, former Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee had said that Bengal did not believe in “bulldozer politics”.
“The land of Tagore and Netaji cannot be ruled through fear, force, and demolition drives against ordinary citizens. What we are witnessing today is an attack on the dignity of the people of Bengal — daily wage workers, street vendors, small shopkeepers, and struggling families who have built their lives brick by brick,” Ms. Banerjee had posted on social media.
The Trinamool Congress chairperson had in her post referred to the eviction drive around Howrah Station, Tiljala and Park Circus, and said that there was a growing desperation among those suddenly stripped of shelter and livelihood which exposed a “government more obsessed with optics than humanity”.
Violence in Asansol
At least 26 people were arrested by the police on Sunday in connection with Friday’s violence at Asansol. “A total of 26 accused persons were arrested and produced before the Ld. Court today. Of them, seven accused have been remanded to police custody, while 19 have been sent to judicial custody,” the Asansol-Durgapur police said in a statement on Sunday. Damages would be assessed and compensation taken from the miscreants remanded in connection with the vandalism, the police said.
Published – May 18, 2026 03:15 pm IST
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Prateek Tanmay