Cops Detain Mohun Bagan And East Bengal Supporters As They Join Hands To Demand Justice For Abhaya

There is a famous saying that sports has the power to unite people. Irrespective, caste, religion, age and ethnicity, sports always imparts a feeling of unity and there are no doubts to it. The same emotion is being echoed across the streets of Kolkata where the fans and supporters of arch-rivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan raised their flags in together to protest against the Kolkata rape and murder case. This is the first time when the fans have left their rivalry behind and are demanding justice.

Police Thrash And Detain Supporters Of Mohun Bagan And East Bengal

Fans gathered for protests after the Durand Cup match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan scheduled to be played on August 18, 2024 was called off due to the law and order situation across the city. In what comes across as a very rare and unimaginable sight, given the history of rivalry between two sides,  supporters of the two clubs held each other's flags and raised slogans demanding justice.

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Law And Order Have Completely Collapsed: Kalyan Chaubey

All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey also reached the site a while later and met the angry fans of the three clubs. "It is very shameful. Law and order have completely collapsed in West Bengal. A football match could not happen... and look at police deployment, it looks like a riot is going on," Chaubey, also a BJP leader, told PTI-Video.

The arterial road connecting the city's northern end to the south was eventually blocked at different locations, including Kadapara and Beleghata Connector crossings, disrupting the flow of traffic to and from the airport.

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"We want justice for the sister who was gang-raped and murdered. Together, we Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan fans have assembled here peacefully. Why so many policemen have been deployed here? Why the match had to be cancelled? Don't we have the right to demand justice for the victim," asked Bittu Senapati, a Mohun Bagan supporter.

Police said prohibitory orders under section 163 of the BNSS were imposed in the area from 4 pm till midnight to prevent any disruption of peace.

(With PTI Inputs)