BJP calls 12 hour bandh in Bengal: Mamata Banerjee government deploys huge police contingent

The BJP has called a 12 hour ‘Bangla bandh’ after 2 students lost their lives in clashes with the police in Islampur in North Dinajpur. The Mamata Banerjee government has opposed the bandh and has vowed to take stern action against the protesters. Train services were disrupted for a few minutes at some stations in West Bengal. 

No untoward incident was, however, reported during the blockades put up by bandh supporters at the stations, a police official said. Transport services were normal in the city though bus drivers were seen wearing helmets.

Meanwhile, the state police opened lathicharge on the BJP supporters in Neamatpur of Asansol who all were blocking the road and burning tyres on GT road. Several BJP supporters were arrested by the police who all were blocking the road. The BJP supporters have took out a rally in Neamatpur bazar in favour of the bandh. The BJP procession moved all across the Neamatpur bazar and after which they blocked the road when police opened lathicharge.

BJP leader Amit Gorai reacted on the police lathicharge and said, “we have taken out a silent procession in favour of the bandh, but police opened lathicharge on our supporters and arrested many of our supporters.”

Bandh supporters had squatted on the tracks at Barasat, Krishnagar and some stations in Sealdah division for 5-10 minutes in the morning, but the blockade has been lifted, an Eastern Railway spokesman said.

At present, train services in the Eastern Railway, including suburban services, are normal, he said.

Party workers are staging blockades at Chengail, Andul and Ramrajatala stations in the Howrah-Kharagpur section of the South Eastern Railway, affecting suburban train services in the section, SER Central Public Relations Officer Sanjoy Ghosh said.

A huge police contingent has been deployed in the city to avoid any untoward incident during the shutdown and no untoward incident has been reported in the metropolis since 6 am, a police official said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called the bandh to protest against the death of two students in a clash with the police on October 20 during a demonstration over recruitment of teachers at Daribhita High School in Islampur area, the police said.

The protesting students had said they did not require a Urdu and Sanskrit teachers and demanded that teachers be recruited for science and other subjects.

In Islampur area, BJP supporters squatted on the road to stop traffic movement.

The state government had issued a notification for its employees asking them to attend office on the bandh day.

There will be no holiday on the day before or after the Bangla Bandh. Even a half holiday will not be sanctioned on the day, it said.

Commercial establishments, private offices and educational institutions were also asked to function normally on Wednesday. 

(With PTI Inputs)