West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s protest march in Kolkata on Wednesday witnessed dramatic scenes after she slapped a member of her own party while attempting to disperse a crowd gathered outside her residence following the rally.

The protest march was organised against the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur. The rally was held after the Calcutta High Court allowed it, despite the Kolkata Police initially denying permission.

Rally witnesses repeated clashes

According to reports, the procession faced repeated disruptions as Trinamool Congress and BJP workers allegedly engaged in pushing and shoving along the rally route. Security personnel intervened to control the situation and reportedly carried out a baton charge to disperse the crowd.

BJP supporters also allegedly attempted to stop the march by forming a human chain and raised slogans of “chor, chor” (thief) during the protest. Some Trinamool workers were also reportedly targeted with eggs during the rally.

Slap incident caught attention

The most talked-about moment came after the rally concluded near Mamata Banerjee’s residence.

A large crowd had gathered outside the house, prompting the Chief Minister to step forward to clear the area. During the commotion, she slapped a party worker and pushed away several others while trying to restore order. Videos of the incident quickly circulated on social media.

Mamata Banerjee accuses BJP of planned disruption

Following the rally, Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of deliberately attempting to disrupt the protest despite the court granting permission for the event.

She alleged that women workers from her party were assaulted and several supporters suffered injuries during the clashes. Banerjee also claimed that BJP supporters organised a motorcycle rally near her residence, played loud music throughout the protest route and snatched microphones that had been permitted for use during the march.

The Chief Minister further alleged that the Kolkata Police remained passive during the disturbances and accused them of behaving like BJP workers.

BJP rejects allegations

The BJP dismissed Mamata Banerjee’s accusations.

State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said the party had not prevented Banerjee from holding the march. However, he criticised the Trinamool Congress, alleging that it had failed to change West Bengal’s political culture despite being in power for years.

Court had modified rally route

The Kolkata Police had initially refused permission for the protest march. However, the Calcutta High Court later permitted the rally while modifying its proposed route to minimise inconvenience to the public.

The protest was organised in response to the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur. The main accused, Prabhas Mondal, was later killed in a police encounter, while four people have been arrested in connection with the case.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the first phase of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project is expected to be completed within the next 18 months, with around 10,000 newly built homes ready for eligible residents.

Addressing the Maharashtra Assembly, the Chief Minister said the Prime Minister is expected to hand over the keys to beneficiaries once the first phase is completed. He described the initiative as more than a housing project, saying it aims to improve both living standards and economic opportunities in Dharavi.

“We will organise a programme in the next one-and-a-half years where the Prime Minister will hand over the keys to 10,000 homes in Dharavi,” Fadnavis said.

Eligible residents to be rehabilitated within Dharavi

According to the Chief Minister, residents who qualify under the year 2000 eligibility cut-off will receive rehabilitation homes within Dharavi itself.

He added that people who are not eligible under the original criteria or whose properties fall outside the redevelopment area will also receive housing. These beneficiaries will be allotted homes at locations close to Dharavi rather than being shifted to distant parts of Mumbai.

Eligible beneficiaries under the project will receive rehabilitation homes measuring 350 square feet. Residents covered under the extended 2011 eligibility criteria will also be accommodated after paying the prescribed charge of ₹2.5 lakh.

Project to cover residential, commercial and industrial redevelopment

Spread across nearly 600 acres in central Mumbai, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project seeks to redevelop residential, commercial and industrial areas while rehabilitating eligible residents. Construction work began in January 2025.

The Maharashtra government estimates the project will include around 95 million square feet of rehabilitation construction along with nearly 130 million square feet of commercial development. Existing commercial establishments operating in Dharavi will also be redeveloped as part of the initiative.

Fadnavis said the state has identified 19 cluster redevelopment projects across Mumbai, including Juhu Galli, Behrampada and Antop Hill, as part of a wider urban renewal plan.

Government highlights economic and infrastructure benefits

The Chief Minister said no GST would be levied under the project for the first five years. He added that the redevelopment is expected to cover nearly 1.6 lakh residential and industrial units.

Describing Dharavi as a future economic hub for Mumbai, Fadnavis said the redevelopment would help integrate informal businesses into the formal economy while improving infrastructure for residents and commercial establishments.

The project is being implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under a public-private partnership between the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group. The state government has described it as one of the world’s largest urban renewal initiatives and an important step towards its goal of making Mumbai slum-free.

A suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district, bringing an end to a multi-day search operation that had been underway since the militants were first spotted in the area.

According to officials, the body of the suspected terrorist was recovered from the Saidpora area of South Kashmir. Arms and ammunition were also seized from the encounter site following the operation.

The operation began after surveillance cameras reportedly captured two suspected terrorists moving through a dense orchard in the Chhanapora area of Saidpora several days ago. Based on the footage and subsequent intelligence inputs, security forces launched a cordon and search operation to track down the suspects.

Officials said the search was initiated following information about the presence of suspected Lashkar commander Zakir Ganai and his associate, Latief Bhat. Security agencies are still working to formally establish the identity of the militant killed in the encounter.

Joint operation by police, Army and CRPF

The anti-terror operation was carried out jointly by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

As security personnel closed in on the suspected militants, an exchange of fire reportedly took place. To prevent any escape, forces sealed all possible exit routes through the orchard. The Army’s specialised counter-insurgency formation, Victor Force, also illuminated the area during the night to improve visibility and tighten the security cordon.

Following the operation, the Jammu and Kashmir Police shared a message on social media stating, “You can run, but you cannot hide,” confirming the success of the mission.

Authorities have not yet announced whether the second suspected militant has been apprehended or remains at large. Search operations in the area are expected to continue.