BJP's 12-hour 'Bangla Bandh' partly affects life in West Bengal

Pic/PTI

Daily life was somewhat affected in parts of West Bengal on Wednesday due to a 12-hour 'Bangla Bandh' called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in protest against the police action against demonstrators during a march to the state secretariat, reported news agency PTI.

In state capital Kolkata, the usual busyness on the roads on a weekday morning was missing with a lesser number of buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis plying. Private vehicles were also significantly less in numbers, even as markets and shops remained open as usual.

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Schools and colleges remained open, while in most private offices, attendance was lesser with employees being asked to work from home.

BJP leaders urge people to follow 'Bangla Bandh' call

In Bhabanipur, BJP MLA Agnimitra Pal urged people with folded hands not to take out their vehicles amid Bangla Bandh, reported PTI.

BJP workers demonstrated at the Bongaon station in North 24 Parganas, Gocharan station in South 24 Parganas, and the Murshidabad station in support of the bandh. Tension was palpable at the Barrackpore station in North 24 Parganas as BJP supporters and TMC workers came face to face, reported PTI.

BJP workers blocked the way of a local train in Hooghly station, reported PTI.

At Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district, BJP activists picketed on the road, disrupting traffic.

In Malda, activists of the TMC and BJP engaged in a brawl over the blocking of a road. Police swung into action to disperse the warring groups, reported PTI.

BJP activists demonstrated at the Bankura town bus stand. In Alipurduar, BJP activists engaged in a scuffle with the police as they tried to block an arterial road, shouting slogans such as 'dafa ek dabi ek, mukhyomantrir padatyag' (single demand, the chief minister must resign), reported PTI.

The 'Bangla Bandh', which began at 6 am, was called by the BJP in protest against police action on the participants of 'Nabanna Abhijan' on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of CM Mamata Banerjee over the rape and murder of the doctor at RG Kar hospital. The march to the secretariat was organised by a newly formed students' group, Chatra Samaj.

TMC workers protest against BJP's Bangla Bandh call

The Trinamool Congress party workers on Wednesday staged a protest against BJP's 12-hour 'Bangla Bandh' call against police crackdown on peaceful protest during 'Nabanna Abhijan' - march.

Speaking on it, TMC leader Narayan Ghosh told ANI, "They (BJP) want to make poor people suffer. They have come to West Bengal to do dacoity. Common and poor people are with Mamata Banerjee. West Bengal can't be stopped by doing such things."