BJP workers clash with cops during 12-hour shutdown in West Bengal
Several BJP leaders, including former Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly and MLA Agnimitra Paul, detained for blocking roads and railway tracks
Kolkata: BJP workers clashed with police at several places across West Bengal on Wednesday as they tried to enforce a 12-hour shutdown in the State.
Several BJP leaders, including former Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly and MLA Agnimitra Paul, were detained for blocking roads and railway tracks since the early morning.
The ‘Bangla Bandh’, which began at 6 am, was called by the BJP in protest against Tuesday’s police action on participants of ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ or march to the Secretariat, organised by the newly formed students’ group Chatra Samaj over the rape and murder of the doctor at RG Kar hospital.
Ganguly and Paul were detained from south Kolkata‘s Gariahat area when they were urging traders to down their shutters and requesting people to support the bandh.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation Councillor Sajal Ghosh was detained from his residence in Sealdah shortly after BJP workers scuffled with TMC supporters while trying to enforce the bandh in the nearby Koley Market.
His wife Tania Ghosh then took out a rally, alleging that police held him without any warrant.
Later, Deputy Commissioner (Central) Indira Mukherjee said Ghosh was arrested for making provocative comments.
State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, a Union Minister, led a procession at Baguihati in the northern fringes of the city but had an altercation with the police who tried to stop him. Former MP Debasree Choudhury and hundreds of party workers accompanied him.
BJP workers also demonstrated in Shyambazar and Wipro More in the IT hub of Sector 5, but police were swift in removing them to clear the roads for traffic.
An official of the Eastern Railway said bandh supporters blocked tracks at 49 places under its jurisdiction in the State.
While the blockades were lifted at most places, it was continuing in nine stations, mostly in the Sealdah South section, he said.
At Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas district, BJP alleged that two of its workers were shot at. Police, however, claimed that the two men were beaten up by some people outside Anglo India Jute Mill. The injured persons were taken to the Bhatpara State General Hospital for treatment, they said.
Former BJP MP Arjun Singh and Jagaddal’s TMC MLA Somenath Shyam, along with their supporters, reached the area after the incident, triggering tensions. Police intervened and brought the situation under control.
“Miscreants owing allegiance to the Trinamool Congress fired the shots, if police are not around we will show TMC the people’s power,” Singh said.
Shyam countered saying that the BJP leader was trying to incite violence in the area.
