Volunteers of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a demonstration in front of the Jadavpur police station here on Saturday and blocked a major crossing in front of the police station for over an hour to voice their protest against the vandalism of the statute of Russian Communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin.

Lenin’s bust near a bus stand opposite Jadavpur University in the city’s south was found damaged on Thursday morning. CPI(M) volunteers claimed that it was the handiwork of two local Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters. The statue’s nose and chin was damaged.

“We have received a complaint alleging that Babusona Sarkar and Amit Sarkar had damaged the bust. No arrests have been yet since it was an act of mischief which is a non-cognisable offence. We submitted a charge sheet in the Alipore Court today [Saturday] as it was closed yesterday [Friday],” a police official of the Jadavpur police station said, adding that arrests could be made only if the court issued an arrest warrant.

Alleging that the police was acting on behalf of the ruling party by not arresting any of the accused, CPI(M) supporters claimed that the party was being targeted by the TMC ahead of the municipality elections. They demanded immediate arrest of the miscreants.

Left rally today

Saturday’s protest comes a day ahead of the CPI(M)’s rally at the city’s Brigade Parade ground which will kick start its 24th State conference from Sunday and will last till March 13. The party is expecting a massive turnout and has been putting up banners, hoardings and flags all over the city in preparation of the rally. Since it was decimated by the TMC in the State Assembly elections in 2011, it has gradually been losing its popularity in the State.