2 September, Tuesday: On 2nd September,2025, the Kolkata Police stopped an army truck for violating traffic rules. This incident happened near the writer's building in BBD Square. The Hare Street police said the army truck took a wrong full turn and was driving recklessly. This incident sparked the political debate, as the day before, the TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had alleged that the BJP was using the Army to dismantle the protest stage.
The Hare Street police station cops said the army truck was being driven “recklessly”, had jumped a signal, and ignored a "no-right turn" notice, after which it was stopped by on-duty traffic policemen.
The official vehicle of the Kolkata Police commissioner, Manoj Verma, was behind the truck when it took the turn. The truck was reportedly heading towards Fort William, the headquarters of the Eastern Command, per the Indian Express.
Interestingly, just the day before, the Indian army dismantled the TMC protest stage, which was made as a part of Bhasa Andolon. “We hold the Indian Army in the highest regard. What happened at Mayo Road is not the Army’s handiwork. The BJP abused the power to dismantle our 'Bhasha Andolan' protest dais despite prior permission being granted and security deposits submitted,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.
TMC supremo attacked the BJP's government for misusing the army and claimed that she does not blame the army. Calling it "unethical and undemocratic", Banerjee said the BJP cannot trample the voice, and she will continue to protest this in Bengali.
Following this, the Indian Army issued a statement stating that “The Indian army (Local military Authority, Kolkata) permits events in the Maidan area for a duration of two days, as directed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. Permission for events greater than 3 days needs to be obtained from the MoD under the Government of India."
Was the action of the Kolkata Police an act based on the incident, or is it a reply to the BJP? Time will tell for this, surely. Right now, the Kolkata Police head officers have come together to solve the matter.
