Kolkata: In protest against the alleged police crackdown during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' protest rally in the state capital on Tuesday, the BJP has called a 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh' today.
Firing at BJP leaders
During the bandh, BJP leader Priyangu Pandey accused TMC members of attacking and firing at his car in Bharpara, North 24 Parganas. He alleged that bombs were thrown at his vehicle and 6-7 rounds of gunfire followed.
Meanwhile, police has detained some BJP workers holding a protest during the shutdown.
"Nothing will happen, the more they detain, the more people will join the protest. This is the anger of people and they are on the road. Police can detain people but not to the idea.": BJP leader Locket Chatterjee
West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari also joins the protest, call for 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh'.
Train services disrupted
Train services have been disrupted across Hooghly, Katwa, Sealdah South Branch, Murshidabad, and Krishnanagar, with local trains halted on various lines.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress is opposing the bandh with road demonstrations, and their workers have reportedly chased away BJP supporters in North 24 Parganas.
Tight security
While the authorities have tightened security in Kolkata in the wake of 'Bandh', all the drivers of North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) buses have been asked to wear helmets.
Bandh reason
The murder and alleged sexual assault of a female trainee doctor on August 9 at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 caused national outrage and many rallies have been held in different states of the country.
Drivers wearing helmets
Dendup Sherpa, Additional Superintendent of Police (SP), Uttar Dinajpur, a district in West Bengal, said, "Police personnel are deployed everywhere to maintain Law and Order in the state."
Anticipating violence, the administration has instructed drivers and conductors of the government buses in Kolkata to wear helmets
Following instruction from the administration, the drivers of North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) buses were seen wearing helmets, in Cooch Behar.
A bus driver said, "We are wearing helmets because of the bandh today...The department has given us the helmets..."
Another bus diver said, "I am a bit scared. It is for safety. It is a government order. The helmet is creating some sort of problem with driving."
'Nabanna Abhijan' protest
On August 27, chaos broke out in the streets of Kolkata. Security personnel lobbed tear gas shells, used water cannons and resorted to lathicharge to disperse protestors on the Howrah Bridge marching towards the West Bengal State Secretariat Nabanna, amidst the row over the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case.
Protestors gathered at the Howrah Bridge, climbing atop police barricades and clashed with police personnel during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' protest march. They were seen breaking and dragging away the barricades that were erected in the Santragachi area, en route to the Secretariat.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the party had orchestrated the chaos.
"BJP's idea of a 'peaceful protest': Pelt stones and push barricades Severely injure the police Orchestrate extreme chaos and disrupt the law and order of the state. The 'Nabanna Abhiyan' conspired by the BJP is nothing short of a fatal attack on Bengal," the TMC posted on its official X handle on August 28. (with Agency inputs)
