HUMAN CHAIN HALTS DEMOLITION DRIVE AGAINST CPM BOOKSTALL IN JADAVPUR

October 18, 2026

KOLKATA: A human chain formed by supporters and activists prevented an excavator from proceeding with the demolition of a Communist Party of India (Marxist) bookstall near the 8B bus stand in Jadavpur, highlighting a fresh confrontation over the removal of a politically associated structure in south Kolkata.

The proposed demolition triggered resistance from people who gathered at the site to oppose the move. The human chain was formed as the excavator approached the bookstall, with protesters standing together to prevent the demolition machinery from carrying out its task.

The incident brought the area around the busy 8B bus stand into focus, where political activity and public gatherings frequently intersect. The bookstall's association with the CPM has added a political dimension to the dispute, drawing attention from party supporters and local activists.

The confrontation also raises questions about the circumstances behind the proposed demolition and the response of those seeking to preserve the structure. Further details regarding the authorities involved, the legal basis for the action and the subsequent status of the bookstall were not immediately available.

The episode underscores how even a small political bookstall can become the centre of a wider contest over public space, political expression and the presence of party organisations in Kolkata.