Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Two Bengal Congress Leaders Questioned Over Dhirendra Shastri Protest
Two Bengal Congress leaders went to a police station for questioning.
Police were investigating the burning of photographs of Dhirendra Shastri, also called Bageshwar Baba.
Their colleague Atanu Das had already been arrested in the case.
The incident happened after Shastri criticized people who eat non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
His comments led to protests in several parts of Bengal.
The Congress leaders said they were protesting because of his remarks.
One leader said the police asked questions that did not make sense to them.
After the questioning, people outside the station shouted against the Congress and said they were ordinary citizens.
Ashutosh Chatterjee and Pradip Prasad were questioned at Bhowanipore police station on Sunday.
They were accused of burning photographs of Dhirendra Shastri during a protest last week.
Congress colleague Atanu Das was previously arrested in the same case.
The protests followed Shastri’s criticism of non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
Chatterjee called the police questions irrelevant, while protesters outside denounced the Congress agitation.
- Who
- Bengal Pradesh Congress leaders Ashutosh Chatterjee and Pradip Prasad were questioned; Dhirendra Shastri’s photographs were allegedly burned during the protest.
- What
- The two leaders appeared for questioning in a case concerning the burning of photographs of Dhirendra Shastri.
- When
- They appeared around 3 p.m. on Sunday and left at about 4:20 p.m.; the photograph-burning incident occurred the previous week.
- Where
- Bhowanipore police station in Kolkata, West Bengal.
- Why
- Police questioned them about the incident and their protest against Shastri, whose remarks about non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja had triggered protests.
Congress and Protest Supporters
Police and Congress Critics
Reason for the protest
Congress and Protest Supporters
Congress leaders protested Shastri’s remarks about non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja and said the police questions were irrelevant.
Police and Congress Critics
Police focused on why the leaders protested and on the alleged burning of Shastri’s photographs.
Public reaction
Congress and Protest Supporters
Congress leaders had lodged multiple complaints about Shastri’s remarks and said there had been no visible action on them.
Police and Congress Critics
A group outside the police station said it was protesting as ordinary citizens and shouted slogans against the Congress agitation.
Law-enforcement response
Congress and Protest Supporters
Congress representatives pointed to the lack of visible action on their complaints about Shastri’s comments.
Police and Congress Critics
Police questioned two leaders, while Atanu Das had already been arrested in the photograph-burning case.
- Questioned leaders
- Ashutosh Chatterjee and Pradip Prasad
- Police station
- Bhowanipore police station
- Previous arrest
- Congress colleague Atanu Das was arrested in the same case.
- Shastri’s remarks
- He criticized the consumption of non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja and called it “dirty food.”
- Event location
- Shastri was in Liluah, Howrah, for a three-day Hanumant Katha programme.
- Questioning duration
- The two leaders arrived around 3 p.m. and left together at 4:20 p.m.