Story perspectives

Kolkata police arrest Congress leaders after Durga Puja protest

By Drooid · Sep 13, 2026, 4:10 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Police Arrest Congress

Police arrested and summoned Congress leaders after a protest against priest Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s call to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
Demonstrators trampled, struck with footwear and burned Shastri’s photograph, prompting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to order arrests.
Atanu Das, South Kolkata district Congress general secretary, was arrested around midnight on September 8.
Ashutosh Chatterjee, Congress secretary, was summoned on September 13 to appear before the officer at 3 p.m.

Left

Police Arrest Congress

Kolkata police arrested Congress leaders after a protest against priest Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s call to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
The coverage notes that authorities are detaining demonstrators while overlooking the preacher’s hateful remarks, exposing uneven accountability.
Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered arrests for burning photograph, and an FIR was filed at Bhowanipore.
Congress general secretary Ashutosh Chatterjee was summoned for September 13, and secretary Atanu Das was arrested.

Blindspot

Police filed an FIR at Bhowanipore police station after a photograph of priest Dhirendra Krishna Shastri was burned, initiating an investigation.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In December 1992, the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya sparked nationwide riots, prompting the Indian government to impose curfews. Over 30,000 demonstrators gathered in New Delhi, while Delhi Police recorded 2,000 arrests, including senior BJP leaders like L.K. Advani. Similarly, Kolkata police in September 2024 detained Congress officials such as Atanu Das and Ashutosh Chatterjee after they burned priest Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s photograph. These episodes illustrate how religious provocations repeatedly trigger state crackdowns, reinforcing a pattern where legal actions shape India’s communal-political landscape.

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Police Arrest Congress

Police arrested and summoned Congress leaders after a protest against priest Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s call to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
Demonstrators trampled, struck with footwear and burned Shastri’s photograph, prompting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to order arrests.
Atanu Das, South Kolkata district Congress general secretary, was arrested around midnight on September 8.
Ashutosh Chatterjee, Congress secretary, was summoned on September 13 to appear before the officer at 3 p.m.

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