Debashish Chakraborty of Kolkata Police may face permanent loss of vision in his left eye due to a brick attack during the ‘Nabanna Abhijaan’ on Tuesday, according to official sources. Sergeant Debashish Chakraborty, a 2015 batch officer, was among the police officials deployed during the Nabanna Abhijan march to the state secretariat, organised by the Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj student group on August 27. Kolkata police sources report that Chakraborty is at risk of losing sight in his left eye after being struck by stones thrown by protesters and is receiving treatment at Shankar Nethralaya.
“During Nabanno Abhijaan, he along with others was deployed for duty at 11 Furlong gate. They were redeployed to Strand Road and while the team was moving towards Strand Road via Kingsway (Eden Garden) a number of protesters including both female and male student protesters had thrown brickbats on police vehicles. In which of the vehicles he was sitting where a brick hit his left eye directly. His left eye has been severely traumatised,” police sources told ANI.
Three other police personnel traveling with him during the attack were also injured and are receiving treatment. SGT Atanu Roy Chowdhary, SGT David Topno, and Home Guard Debasis Kundu also got hurt during the protests. Debasish Kundu is also hospitalised at Fortis Hospital with injuries to his eye and nose.
“Tragic consequences emerged during Nabanno Abhiyaan called by students on Tuesday. He has suffered a devastating injury, losing permanent eyesight in his left eye. After surgery, doctors indicate that his vision cannot be restored,” they added.
On Tuesday, the ‘Paschim Banga Chatra Samaj’ and other organisations carried out a protest march to the West Bengal Secretariat, known as ‘Nabanna,’ to condemn the recent rape and murder of a female trainee doctor in Kolkata. The rally, called “Nabanna Abhijan,” began at College Square in the West Bengal capital, with increased security around the state secretariat and protesters assembling in the Santragachi area of Howrah.
During the protest march, police used water cannons on demonstrators who climbed over barricades, clashed with officers, and broke the barriers at Santragachi in Howrah. Protesters also dragged away police barricades, prompting police to use lathi-charges and fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. This unrest followed the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, which triggered nationwide outrage and several subsequent protests demanding justice for the victim.