Bengal Congress to march Lalbazar on Aug 5 over law and order
Synopsis
West Bengal Pradesh Congress is marching to Lalbazar on 5 August — the heart of Kolkata's police command — demanding accountability over alleged attacks on its workers during the 21 July Martyrs' Day programme, fabricated cases against supporters, and what it calls a partisan administration. It is a direct, public confrontation with the state's law enforcement establishment.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal Pradesh Congress announced a protest march to Lalbazar on 5 August .
The procession will begin from Calcutta University between 12 noon and 1 pm ; a memorandum will be submitted to the Police Commissioner .
State Congress President Subhankar Sarkar alleged party workers were attacked en route to the Martyrs' Day programme at Shaheed Minar on 21 July .
Congress demands withdrawal of alleged false cases against opposition workers and a neutral administration in political violence incidents.
Sarkar also condemned attacks on journalists and denied Congress student involvement in those incidents.
The West Bengal Pradesh Congress on Tuesday, 28 July announced a protest march to Lalbazar — the headquarters of Kolkata Police — on 5 August, citing the alleged deterioration of law and order in the state, attacks on opposition workers, and what the party described as fabricated cases filed against its supporters.
What the March Entails
State Congress President Subhankar Sarkar said a peaceful procession will begin from in front of Calcutta University and proceed to Lalbazar in central Kolkata, where a memorandum will be submitted to the Police Commissioner. Workers and supporters have been asked to assemble between 12 noon and 1 pm on that day.
Sarkar said the party had initially considered gheraoing police stations across the state but opted for a centralised march to Lalbazar 'considering the overall law and order situation.'
Allegations Behind the Protest
The Congress leader alleged that party workers travelling from various districts to attend the party's Martyrs' Day programme at Shaheed Minar in Kolkata on 21 July faced obstruction and physical attacks en route. He claimed several workers were assaulted, injured and, in some cases, hospitalised, while alleging that police failed to take effective action despite complaints being lodged.
Sarkar further alleged that BJP supporters were responsible for 'attacks, beatings, looting of food and goods at various places,' resulting in injuries to Congress workers. He claimed that despite the incidents being reported to the police administration, no meaningful action followed.
Key Demands
Through the Lalbazar march, the Pradesh Congress intends to press for three specific outcomes: improvement in law and order across West Bengal; withdrawal of what it calls false cases filed against opposition workers; and a neutral stance from the administration in incidents of political violence.
Concern Over Student Protests and Press Freedom
Sarkar also raised alarm over recent student protests in Kolkata and alleged attacks on journalists. He strongly condemned the press attacks and maintained that Congress students and youth wing workers were not involved in those incidents. He claimed, however, that false cases and arrests had been made against Congress workers who participated in the broader movement.
The march is set to be one of the more visible opposition demonstrations in Kolkata ahead of what observers note is an increasingly contentious political climate in West Bengal.
Point of View
High-visibility march to the police headquarters — a tactical choice that maximises media optics while reducing the risk of localised clashes. Whether the Police Commissioner accepts the memorandum or the march itself passes without incident will be the real signal of where the administration stands.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Bengal Congress marching to Lalbazar on 5 August?
The West Bengal Pradesh Congress is marching to Lalbazar, the headquarters of Kolkata Police, on 5 August to protest the alleged deterioration of law and order in the state, attacks on opposition workers during the 21 July Martyrs' Day programme, and the filing of what it describes as false cases against its supporters.
Who is leading the Bengal Congress Lalbazar march?
State Congress President Subhankar Sarkar is leading the march. He announced the protest on 28 July and has urged all Congress workers and supporters to assemble in front of Calcutta University between 12 noon and 1 pm on 5 August.
What are the Congress party's demands from Kolkata Police?
Congress is demanding improvement in law and order across West Bengal, withdrawal of alleged false cases filed against opposition workers, and a neutral role from the administration in incidents of political violence. A memorandum outlining these demands will be submitted to the Police Commissioner.
What happened to Congress workers on 21 July?
According to Subhankar Sarkar, Congress workers travelling from various districts to attend the Martyrs' Day programme at Shaheed Minar in Kolkata on 21 July were obstructed and attacked en route. He alleged several workers were assaulted, injured, and in some cases hospitalised, and that police took no effective action despite complaints.
Why did Congress change its plan from gheraoing police stations to a Lalbazar march?
Sarkar said the decision to conduct a centralised march to Lalbazar instead of gheraoing individual police stations was taken 'considering the overall law and order situation,' indicating the party opted for a less confrontational but more visible form of protest.
