It was a politically sensitive weekend for the state as it readied itself for the kind of large-scale events that come with the Jana Sangh founder’s 125th year. The new BJP government has even made July 6 a public holiday to see it through. And then, not long before Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s arrival, the statue site was defaced.
Arrest, charges, and a fast-tracked probe
The Amherst Street Police Station was the first to be notified when Saumyajit Roy Chowdhury, 23, of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, put in a complaint. From there, the police were on the move. Tipped off by an inside source, they rounded up Rupesh Hazra (26) of Wards Institution Street, which falls under Narkeldanga jurisdiction.
A charge sheet is in the works under Sections 298, 324(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A top officer in the force put it this way: the complaint makes out a case of conspiracy, with the accused and his circle allegedly going after a cemented nameplate the group holds in high regard at around 1.30 am.
“We are looking at the tapes from the area,” said Kunal Agarwal, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime). His men have also taken into evidence the pieces of the broken tiles and the remains of the name plaque from where it was found.
What was damaged, and where
You can find the scene of the vandalism on Sukia Street in north Kolkata, off APC Road. Police say the bust was left alone, but the pedestal and the name plate below it were put out of commission.
All of this was put in place as late as Saturday night. It was meant to be the centrepiece for a Monday unveiling by some of the party’s senior figures, in keeping with the schedule for the day.
Political backdrop to a turbulent morning
The North Kolkata wing of the Yuva Morcha had only recently put up two busts on APC Road near the Beliaghata Assembly constituency – one for Dr Mookerjee and another for Gopal Mookerjee. Early on Sunday, local workers came across the mess.
“We just saw that someone had put an end to the pedestal of the statue,” said Soumyadeep Raychaudhuri, vice president of the unit. “The upper part is fine, but the lower has been caved in. I would call it deeply unfortunate; no one in his right mind does this.”
There are accusations from some in the local BJP that the Trinamool Congress had a hand in it. The police have not put any stamp on a political angle and are calling for some composure while they get to the bottom of it.
A milestone commemoration under a spotlight
This time around, the occasion has more weight to it. According to the party, it is the first of its kind in West Bengal to be observed as a state holiday. The plans for July 6 are already in motion on a grand scale.
Even the state headquarters at Muralidhar Lane has been put in order for the main event. Shah will be front and centre with the rest of the state’s top brass.
Amit Shah’s schedule on the day
Shah will be making his way to the Mookerjee home in Bhawanipur to offer some flowers. He is also to put the foundation stone for a 125-foot statue at the Eco Park in New Town.
Evidence trail and next steps
The police are working to put faces to any others who may have been part of it. For the moment, they are sifting through the footage to see what the suspect and any sidekicks did and where they went.
They are also looking at whether this was part of something larger. If they can tie down the associates, more arrests are on the table.
Key official actions so far
Here is what has been done in the wake of the complaint:
– A takedown of a suspect in Narkeldanga
– BNS case opened (298, 324(4), 61(2))
– The area’s CCTV is in our hands
– We have the debris from the spot
Why this matters now
It is hard not to be reminded of 2018 and the similar trouble with a Mookerjee bust in the city. On the cusp of a visit from the Home Minister and a big show of celebration, the latest row could very well stoke the fires if the story is not put to rest quickly.
The investigation is ongoing, the police will have you know. Come Monday, when the formal unveiling is due, it will be a matter of seeing if things can be kept in check for what is sure to be an emotional affair.
