The match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan scheduled for Sunday has been cancelled. Kolkata’s Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate said that this decision was taken in view of the possibility of protests against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College. According to the police, it was planned that the protesters would protest in the stadium even during the match. This step has been taken as a precaution to avoid any untoward incident.
According to Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, BNSS Section 163 was implemented outside Yuva Bharti Stadium. Despite this, the protesters started gathering near the stadium. Seeing this, the police tried to stop the protesters. After this, a scuffle started from both sides. The police tried to remove the protesters from there. During this, lathi charge was also done.
The protesters present there questioned the police that if the match has been cancelled due to security reasons, then why was so much police deployed to stop the protest? Outside the Yuva Bharti Stadium, supporters of both the teams were seen carrying flags of their respective clubs. The special thing was that the supporters of both the teams were singing in the same tune during the protest.
A senior officer said that the Bidhannagar police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 from 4 pm to midnight on Sunday to maintain security and peace. Some organisations had planned to hold protests at the stadium during the match. The police officer told reporters that there was specific information about attempts to spread violence at the stadium during the derby match. He said, “We had received specific information that some groups and organisations would try to create disturbance at the stadium.”
He said that 62-63 thousand spectators were expected to attend the stadium. He said, “Keeping in mind the safety and peace of ordinary football lovers, we talked to the organizers and decided to cancel today’s match.”
The officer said that Bidhannagar Police is not against peaceful protests but this step was taken in view of the possibility of unruly elements mixing in. He said that five people have been detained and other anti-social elements are being identified. In view of security, Bidhannagar Police has imposed prohibitory orders in and around the stadium from 4 pm on Sunday till night.