Kolkata: Normal life was disrupted partially with less private vehicles and taxis hitting the roads, low attendance in private offices and schools and some markets and commercial establishments remaining closed on Wednesday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organised a 12-hour West Bengal shutdown.
Starting 6 am, the bandh disrupted normal life partly with reports of clashes between BJP and Trinamool Congress workers pouring in from several parts of the state. Many saffron party leaders were detained even as a BJP leader, Priyangu Pandey, from North 24 Parganas claimed that his car was shot at and attacked with bombs by Trinamool Congress supporters.
A warning by the Mamata Banerjee government on the eve of the shutdown ensured that most government employees reported on duty as normal. The North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) advised its bus drivers to wear helmets for safety.
Amid counter-claims by rivals, Trinamool Congress leaders alleged that the people were not willing participating in the shut down and alleged that saffron party workers tried to force shut educational institutions.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a post on X, dedicated the foundation day of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad to the doctor murdered and raped at R G Kar Medical and Hospital on August 9.
In many districts, BJP supporters were seen on the streets from the morning appealing to people to shut down their establishments. Some TMC activists tried to oppose the shutdown even as both sides were involved in minor scuffles and clashes.
The bandh has been called to protest against police action and detention on those who took part in a march to the state secretariat ‘Nabbana’ on Tuesday over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata. The BJP also wrote a letter to Governor C V Ananda Bose asking him to instruct police to release students detained and arrested during protests on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the police detained many BJP leaders and their followers across the state for allegedly disturbing public life.
BJP leader Rupa Ganguly was detained in Kolkata’s Gariahat after she urged commuters to join the Bengal bandh. “Police are behaving so badly these days, don’t they feel ashamed?” she tweeted.
In Kolkata, BJP leaders Locket Chatterjee and Rahul Sinha were detained at Shyambazar five-point crossing and RS MP Samik Bhattacharya was detained at Salt Lake.
Reports were reaching Kolkata that normal train services were affected as the bandh supporters blocked tracks in several parts of the state.
BJP leader Kaustav Bagchi, who went to Barrackpore station to enforce a shutdown, was forced to leave the station, sources added.
BJP leader Agnimitra Paul said her party activists were not forcing people to observe the bandh. “They are only appealing to join in the shutdown,” she added.
In North 24 Parganas, BJP leader Priyangu Pandey claimed that TMC goon hurled bombs and fired 6-7 rounds of bullets on his car. However, none was hurt.
TMC MP Mahu Moitra took to X to complain about the alleged high-handedness of BJP workers. “BJP goons forcefully shutting high schools today. Don’t expect more from party whose leader has mystery degree in Entire Political Science. Thank you BJP for reinforcing why Bengal shuns you,” she tweeted, along with a video showing purported BJP workers putting up a party flag on the gate of a high school in Ranaghat, Nadia.
The state government is opposed to the shutdown and it called upon the people and the government employees to maintain normal services and attend their respective offices and work places.
“We urge people not to participate in it. All steps shall be taken to ensure that normal life is unaffected,” chief advisor to the chief minister, Alapan Bandopadhyay, told a media conference on Tuesday.
Several domestic airlines have issued advisories about possible disruption in road traffic and urged travellers to allow themselves sufficient time to reach airports.
