Ex-Servicemen Hold Court-Approved Sit-In at Kolkata’s Maidan After Army Stage Row

Overview

• A Calcutta High Court order allowed a sit-in by former defence personnel at the Gandhi statue with restrictions on timing, sound use and attendance, while barring BJP office-bearers from assembling.
• Justice Tirthankar Ghosh set the window from 12 pm to 5 pm and permitted one loudspeaker with hand mics, allowing ex-servicemen cell office-bearers to organise the event.
• The protest took place on Thursday as Kolkata Police visited the site to verify authorisation papers and the court’s permission.
• BJP leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Shankudeb Panda appeared at the venue, with Adhikari addressing the gathering despite the order prohibiting BJP office-bearers’ presence.
• The dispute stems from the Army dismantling a TMC stage on September 1 under Maidan permit rules; police had earlier offered alternative protest sites including the Y Channel, Shahid Minar and Subodh Mallick Square.