AIFF chief Kalyan Chaubey on cancellation of East Bengal-Mohun Bagan clash amid protests

All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey criticised the cancellation of the East Bengal-Mohun Bagan match. He also questioned the lack of public order in Kolkata and condemned the rape and murder case at RG Kar Medical Hospital. Chaubey joined the rally of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal fans who had gathered at the Salt Lake Stadium to protest against the gruesome rape.

He said, “It is very shameful; law and order has completely broken down in West Bengal. A football match could not take place… and if you look at the police deployment, it looks like there is a riot going on. The first derby of the season between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan was supposed to take place today and if even half the number of policemen had been deployed to prevent the match and arrest the fans who had come to watch the match, then the match would have taken place today. The matches between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan were supposed to take place here.”

He added: “I believe that football has nothing to do with politics. It is above everything that concerns religion and caste. I am fully convinced that if you organize the match here, there will be no riot or unrest on the football field. I am fully convinced that all people will support their teams peacefully. But the match should not be moved from here. Football fans also want the perpetrator to be caught and punished as soon as possible.”

Laticharge over East Bengal and Mohun Bagan fans demand justice for the victim

Fans of East Bengal and Mohun Bagan gathered outside Kolkata’s famous Salt Lake Stadium despite the cancellation of the Durand Cup match between the two clubs. They shouted slogans demanding justice for the 31-year-old doctor-in-training who was raped and murdered. Several people were arrested as police charged the protesters with batons and bundled them into police vans.