Protests rock Kolkata over Ganguly's exclusion

For the second day on Thursday, Kolkata erupted in protest over the unceremonious sacking of former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly from the Indian Test squad, with the cricketer's fans putting up road blockades, conducting mock hangings and 'shradh' ceremonies of coach Greg Chappell and selection committee chairman Kiran More.

Around 300 people blocked the Behala Chowrasta crossing on the busy Diamond Harbour Road near Ganguly's residence shouting slogans demanding that the left-hander be recalled to the Indian team.

Vehicular traffic came to a standstill at the intersection during the 15-minute long agitation, but those stranded were in no mood to complain.

"We must voice our protest against the injustice done to our boy. There should be more such agitations," said a middle-aged bus passenger.

Police rushed to the spot and removed the protestors.

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"Sourav Ganguly zindabad", "Kiran More gaddi chhodo", shouted the frenzied mob at the NSC Bose international airport soon after Ganguly stepped out of the terminal.

There was a near-pandemonium at the airport and a large posse of policemen posted there had a trying time to keep the fans at bay.

Even as a large number of electronic media personnel and lensmen tried to go near him, the security men threw a cordon around Ganguly and managed to escort him out through the VIP gate into his waiting car, which sped off.