Saffron-clad men protest outside Anandabazar Patrika office in Kolkata

Image for the purpose of representation. | Photo Credit: FARUQUI A.M. 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.On Tuesday, the protesting saffron-clad men raised slogans of “Anandabazar Patrika hai hai” (Anandabazar Patrika shame shame) as they used saffron paint to brush the walls of the white building of the paper. They also raised slogans of “Hindustan will not tolerate the insult of saffron”. However, after a few hours, the authorities of the paper repainted the walls to their original colour.The men have not been identified as yet and no official complaint has been filed against them till now. Police have also not issued any official statement on the matter. Videos of the incident that are now viral on social media show several police personnel standing on the side as the saffron-clad men painted the white walls and raised slogans.Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh condemned the incident. “ There can be differences of opinion with the editorial matters of the media. There can be protests. But in this way, through brute force. The ongoing attacks all around, with that governmental support, this display of muscle power by the uncultured brutes has struck an ugly blow at Bengal’s image,” Mr. Ghosh wrote on his social media.After violence broke out in Jadavpur University on August 19-20, the newspaper published two reports using the phrase “gerua gundami”. On August 27, 2026, Sanjay Shastri Maharaj filed a complaint at the Bowbazar Police Station in Kolkata against the news report. The complaint objected to the use of the phrase “saffron hooliganism” and alleged that it hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community and could disturb public peace.“On 21 August 2026, Anandabazar Patrika published a report on the recent incidents at Jadavpur University in which they deliberately and with the intention of hurting sentiments of Hindu community and disturb public peace used highly objectionable, derogatory, misleading and offensive word ‘saffron hooliganism’,” the complaint by Mr. Maharaj stated. The FIR was registered on August 28.On August 28, at an event in Jadavpur, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari asked the newspaper to “apologise” for the said headline within 24 hours and said that if it did not, people in saffron would protest. The newspaper did not issue an apology.Meanwhile, the Indian Women’s Press Corps and Press Association have issued a statement and asked for the immediate withdrawal of the FIR against the two journalists. Published - September 01, 2026 07:48 pm IST