Chaos at Park Circus after anti-encroachment drive at Howrah station; netizens post records of Islamists pelting stones

Authorities used bulldozers and earthmovers to remove several makeshift stalls and illegal structures that had occupied footpaths and public spaces near the bus stand and Ganga ghat area.

NewsBharati    18-May-2026 13:53:32 PM   
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Massive politics have begun over the recent move by the BJP government in West Bengal after the state police launched drives to remove illegal structures around Howrah Railway Station and in Tiljala, aiming to ease congestion after years of complaints. (West Bengal illegal encroachment)

A major anti-encroachment operation was conducted outside Howrah railway station after midnight, with bulldozers clearing rows of temporary shops and illegal structures from the stretch between the Ganga ghat and the station premises on May 17, Sunday. The drive was carried out jointly by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), railway authorities, and Howrah City Police. A large number of security personnel were deployed in the area to ensure law and order during the eviction exercise. (West Bengal illegal encroachment)
 
Islamists stone pelting newsbharati 
People wearing burqa and Islamic skull caps pelted stones at police (Image- Hindu voice)

Authorities used bulldozers and earthmovers to remove several makeshift stalls and illegal structures that had occupied footpaths and public spaces near the bus stand and Ganga ghat area. The action was part of a railway land clearance initiative aimed at easing passenger movement and improving convenience.

However, following this, massive protests erupted on Sunday, May 17 morning, in which several people, including those wearing burqas and Islamic Skull caps, could be seen pelting stones. Several videos of the incident went viral on the internet, in which the netizens reported that the stone pelting was carried out by the Muslims. Also, during the incident, three police personnel were reported injured. (West Bengal illegal encroachment)

"Muslims did heavy stone pelting on the police in Park Circus. Central forces lathi-charged them. First in my bloodline to see Muslims in Bengal getting the belt treatment they deserved since 1947," one of the netizens said. 
 
 

"Park Circus, Kolkata. Muslims started pelting stones at the police, after which the police resorted to a lathi charge. Never seen a Batman run so fast," another one read.


"Bihari Muslims in Kolkata are crying after getting beaten black and blue by the Kolkata Police. These people were settled en masse by Left + TMC over the last 50 years, many being migrants from Bangladesh too. Kolkata's mayor's family origin is from Gaya," another one noted. (West Bengal illegal encroachment)


Following the incident, the Kolkata Police lathi-charged and identified and arrested the accused individuals who pelted stones at the police.

As per the reports, around 100-150 stalls that had illegally encroached on the approach road to Howrah station were demolished in the operation. After the anti-encroachment operation, the roads were littered with the wares of the hawkers. From biryani to fruits and from children’s clothes to soft toys, the stalls sold a variety of products. They occupied the platforms and a section of the road between the Hooghly Ghat and the station. (West Bengal illegal encroachment)
 
 
West bengal Police nabbing the accused stone pelters (Image- social media BALA)  

The encroachments had caused severe congestion and inconvenience to passengers entering and exiting the station, one of the country’s busiest railway terminals, for years.

Major politics also evolved over the issue in which the opposition parties, including the TMC claimed that no notices were issued to the hawkers. However, the authorities stated that this anti-encroachment was a routine operation and that the cleanup was necessary.
 
 

TMC's Mamata Banerjee, who faced defeat in the recently held assembly elections at the hands of BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, claimed that the poor were paying the price of alleged political arrogance. "Bengal does not believe in bulldozer politics. The land of Tagore and Netaji cannot be ruled through fear, force, and demolition drives against ordinary citizens," she said. (West Bengal illegal encroachment)

"A government that demolishes first and listens later has forgotten the very spirit of Bengal. Real progress is measured by how a state treats its weakest citizens, not by how quickly it can erase them. Bulldozers cannot become the language of governance in a state built on culture, compassion, and resistance to oppression," she added.
 
 

To this, West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh said, "Bulldozers will roll across the entire country. Wherever there is illegal construction, bulldozers will be deployed. The new government that has come to power here in Bengal has initiated this process right from day one. I appeal to anyone involved in illegal activities to conduct their operations within the bounds of the law, and the government will extend its full cooperation to them... We will not tolerate any form of encroachment on government land."
 
Conclusion 

It is important to understand that when former CM Mamata Banerjee says that 'Bengal doesn't understand the politics of bulldozer', it also doesn't understand and believe in the politics of massacring Hindus, of raping women in Sandeshkhali; the Hindu exodus from Murshidabad, turning infiltrators into a vote bank, and also RG Kar politics. Former CM Mamata Banerjee has targeted Hindus when in power; she has downplayed the rape victims and blamed them instead of punishing the accused persons when the latter were associated with the TMC. She has also allegedly sheltered the Bangladeshi infiltrators and used them for political purposes.

Banerjee has ruined the state's culture by allegedly encouraging the infiltration of illegal immigrants into the state. The newly formed BJP-led government is actively working to fix the prevailing cultural fabric of the Eastern state. 
 
The bus stand and Ganga Ghat areas near Howrah railway station have long been plagued by illegal encroachments by hawkers, many of whom allegedly paid cut money to local TMC leaders for protection. Clearing these encroachments is likely to bring major relief to daily commuters and improve cleanliness and movement around the station area. At the same time, it could also lead to a shortage of quick and affordable food options that many passengers rely on.

The Railways should therefore work towards a proper legal vending system by allotting designated spaces to hawkers, while also enforcing strict cleanliness and hygiene standards. Further details in the given case are awaited.
West Bengal Stone pelting anti-encroachment drive BJP Bengal Islamists
Siddhi Somani

Siddhi Somani

Siddhi Somani is known for her satirical and factual hand in Economic, Social and Political writing. Having completed her post graduation in Journalism, she is currently engaged in completing her Masters in Politics. The author meanwhile is also exploring her hand in analytics and statistics.