Farmer rally turns violent in Kolkata, several injured

A demonstration over Trinamool Congress government's alleged anti-farmer policies turned violent on Monday with hundreds of protesters clashing with police in India's eastern city of Kolkata.

The peasant and farmers unit of the Left Front had given a call for a march to the state secretariat, Nabanna, demanding that the farmers be given fair price for their produce and release of all those involved in the anti-land grab agitation and atrocities on women and children.

State police along with paramilitary Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel baton charged the agitating protesters and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd which resorted to stone-pelting.

Several people were injured in the violence. As many as 60 Left supporters were injured in the incident. Around 30 policemen were also injured in the attack.

A thick security blanket has been thrown around the state secretariat and all its entry points have been blocked.

Left MP Mohammed Salim lashed out at the Mamata Banerjee government saying she had turned the state into a police state.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)