CPI(M), Congress hold protest-marches over diplomat arrest

KOLKATA: Indian senior diplomat Devyani Khobragade's arrest and strip-search in New York evoked protest by the CPI-M and the Congress which organised marches to the American Center here.

Condemning the US action against Khobragade, who was arrested on the charge of visa fraud, DYFI and SFI of the CPI-M and the Congress said that the case should be withdrawn immediately.

The CPI(M) protest-march began from Esplanade and was stopped near the Lindsay street crossing where the slogan-shouting members carrying anti-US placards and festoons demonstrated and put up a roadblock.

The Congress march began from the Birla Planetarium, opposite to Shakespeare Sarani, and was stopped by the police near ITC Park.

Seventy-two DYFI and SFI activists and 17 Congress workers were arrested in connection with the protest, the police said.