Policeman manhandles taxi-driver in Kolkata, sparks protests

Kolkata, Jan 6 (IANS) West Bengal opposition Trinamool Congress activists led by their chief Mamata Banerjee laid siege to the central business district here Tuesday evening protesting against the alleged manhandling of a taxi-driver by a policeman.

Hundreds of Trinamool workers blockaded the important arterial roads around the Calcutta High Court area, inconveniencing thousands of commuters.

The police, however, said the driver had parked his cab in a no parking zone, which led to an altercation with a traffic constable on duty.

Locals protested against the behaviour of the constable and gheraoed him, prompting other policemen to shift him to a protected shelter.

Some time later, a large police force arrived and chased the protestors with batons.

As the situation worsened, Banerjee arrived at the scene with her followers and demanded that the constable be punished.

'The police must apologise. I have come here to protest police atrocity,' Banerjere said.

The situation was defused after city police deputy commissioner (central) Damayanti Sen expressed regret over the incident.