Decoding the violence during Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata
Social media is flooded with numerous photos and videos which claim to "show the real picture" of the violence in Kolkata. We selected five videos related to the Kolkata violence and tried to make sense of what could have happened on the ground.
As a shocked Bengal witnessed the bust of its icon Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar getting vandalised during political clashes, leaders as well as social media users are working overtime to churn out various claims and counter claims that are going viral.
Although social media is flooded with numerous photos and videos which claim to "show the real picture" of the violence that forced the Election Commission to use its special powers and cut short campaigning in West Bengal by a day, most of these actually try to put the blame on the rival political party.
We selected five videos related to the Kolkata violence and tried to make sense of what could have happened on the ground. It is difficult to accurately establish the sequence of events on the basis of random videos and a new video may change the narrative completely, but this is what we found. We will update the story if new evidence emerges in public domain.
Video 1
Video evidence that clearly establishes that TMC goons disrupted BJP President Amit Shah’s roadshow just when it was crossing the Calcutta University gate. Police, perhaps on instruction from the CM, remained a mute spectator... #SaveBengalSaveDemocracy pic.twitter.com/cpx4DRIdcP Chowkidar Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 15, 2019
On May 15, Amit Malviya, BJP IT cell chief, posted a video on Twitter claiming, "TMC goons disrupted BJP president Amit Shah's road show just when it was crossing the Calcutta University gate."
In the 1:32-minute video clip, Shah is seen standing on a vehicle during his road show and giving instructions to move forward. The video then takes us to another angle of the road show where we can see a mob tearing BJP banners, cutouts and flags.
We can also see black flags around. At 25 seconds in the video, a scuffle between two groups of people can be seen. Kolkata Police officers are also present but it seems they are unable to control the agitated crowd.
People in saffron as well as in plain clothes can be fighting each other as policemen try to intervene. At the end of the video, scuffles break out with a mob attacking the police.
Video 2
#WATCH Clashes broke out in roadshow of BJP President Amit Shah in Kolkata after sticks were hurled at Shah’s truck. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/t8bnf31vGA ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2019
In this 45-second video posted by ANI on May 14, we can see BJP supporters in saffron costume, turbans and party flags crossing the gate of Vidyasagar College. The main cavalcade of Amit Shah is not visible in the video. But a few other vehicles trailing the road show are passing by.
It can be seen in the video that some people are running helter skelter. Suddenly, a white concrete-like object flung from inside Vidyasagar College falls on the road. It is then followed by people insaffron clothes trying to break the iron gate of the college. The sound of stone pelting and brick bats are audible in the video. Two men with a big wooden log can be seen trying to break open the iron gate.
Video 3
No Paid BJP IT cell can create any illusion to divert people' mind from the heinous deeds done by #BJP goons in #WestBengal
This is the end of BJP in Bengal. #BJPhatesBengali #BJPhatesBengal #SaveBengalSaveDemocracy #VidyasagarCollege #Vidyasagar #Bengali pic.twitter.com/r88CwMchiX Sayani Sengupta (@SayaniSengupt15) May 15, 2019
This two-minute video has been shot from a building situated opposite Vidyasagar College. The top angle shot gives an idea how the college gate was broken. By the movement of vehicles with party symbols and festoons, we can presume that the BJP procession is still on. A group of people in saffron clothes and carrying BJP flags are seen trying to break open the iron gate of the college railing.
An odd crowd of 35-40 people breached the college gate and wenr inside the college. We can hear two male and female voices talking in Bengali at the background saying, "Oh! They have broken it, now they will be blamed where are the police, not a single police around They will be beaten up by the college students if they get inside"
We can also hear loud thuds of things being broken and thrown outside. Some people on the road are recording the incident in their mobile phones.
Video 4
A video posted by Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien claiming "Here's more evidence of the vandalism by goons of #BJP at Amit Shah road show" is also shot from a top angle but from inside the college.
We can see the mob breaking the college gate and entering inside. Many of the people who are seen entering the college after breaking the gate are clad in saffron clothes. The video seems to have been taken from a window on the upper floor of the college.
Video 5
The exact moment when Bengal and Indian icon #Vidyasagar s statue was demolished by bjp goons and gundas...they know nothing about Bengal, and care nothing about our culture & sentiments pic.twitter.com/TXcVU8qZJE Kumar Shankar Roy (@kumarsroy) May 14, 2019
In this 45-second video clip, a mob is seen demolishing something and throwing pieces of what appears to be white marble stones. This video captures the moments after the Vidyasagar bust was already vandalised. We can see a few agitated people around with sticks in their hands.
This group of people is wearing attires of different colours, including saffron. Then, at 37 seconds, a small clip showing BJP men on the road outside, has been inserted in this video.
It is clear that the video is edited because there is a jump cut and glaring difference in lighting. One portion showing the vandalism is shot in the dark, while the inserted shot, showing BJP men on the road, is shot in bright daylight.