Saffron-clad men protest outside Anandabazar Patrika office in Kolkata
Saffron-clad protesters vandalized the Anandabazar Patrika office in Kolkata following the newspaper's critical coverage of clashes at Jadavpur University. The incident has drawn condemnation from political figures and media organizations, though no arrests have been made.
Why it matters
The event highlights growing tensions regarding press freedom and political intolerance in West Bengal.
On Tuesday (September 1, 2026) afternoon, a group of saffron-clad men held a protest outside the Anandabazar Patrika office in Kolkata and painted parts of its white building saffron. This came days after the paper published a news report with the headline “ Gerua gundami ” (saffron hooliganism), describing the recent clashes at Jadavpur University.
An FIR has been registered against the editorial team of the paper, including two senior journalists. The FIR has been criticised by journalists and media groups, with press bodies calling for its withdrawal.
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