A late-night eviction operation at Jadavpur railway station snowballed into a political flashpoint on Monday after protests by hawkers and Left supporters led to clashes with police and the arrest of at least five people.

The drive, carried out shortly after midnight, targeted hawkers operating in and around the railway station premises.

As authorities moved in to clear the area, resistance from vendors and supporters quickly escalated, prompting police intervention.

According to police, five individuals were taken into custody during the unrest that followed the eviction exercise.

CPM alleges police excess, demands rehabilitation

The CPM accused police of resorting to lathicharge against demonstrators and alleged that several party leaders and activists were injured during the crackdown. Watch the video below: 

Among those present at the protest were the party's central committee member Sujan Chakraborty and SFI state general secretary Srijan Bhattacharya.

In a statement, the Left party claimed that multiple protesters sustained head injuries after being struck by police personnel during the operation.

The arrests and the alleged use of force triggered fresh demonstrations in the area. SFI activists later organised a dharna on Raja S C Mullick Road near Jadavpur University, demanding the immediate release of those detained and condemning the police action.

The CPM also renewed its demand that hawkers be provided proper rehabilitation before any eviction measures are undertaken.

Railway authorities, however, said the operation had no impact on train movement. An Eastern Railway official confirmed that services on the Sealdah–Baruipur section continued normally despite the protests.

The issue of removing hawkers from railway land has become increasingly contentious in West Bengal.

Last week, CPM MP Amara Ram wrote to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw urging an immediate halt to eviction drives across Kolkata and neighbouring areas.

In his letter, Ram argued that hawkers have long been an integral part of railway stations in the state, serving commuters with affordable food and daily-use goods.

He also criticised what he described as ‘bulldozer actions’ and called for the eviction campaign to be stopped immediately.