Bangla Bandh News: The unrest and violence in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal continued on Wednesday, August 28, with the BJP's call for a 'Bangla Bandh' or Bengal shutdown. The call for a 12-hour 'Bangla Bandh' was issued by Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Tuesday as he urged all party workers and the general public to support the shutdown from 6 AM to 6 PM.
The 'Bangla Bandh' resulted in massive violence across Kolkata and other parts of Bengal as BJP workers clashed with supporters of TMC and police personnel. Rapid Action Force personnel were also deployed in several areas to control the violence.
Attack On BJP Leader
The BJP alleged that party leader Priyangu Pandey's car was shot at by miscreants. According to Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikary, the 'Bangla Bandh' was called by the BJP to protest the "state-sponsored efforts to derail the RG Kar rape-murder investigation".
Suvendu Adhikari's March For Bangla Bandh
Suvendu Adhikari said the Bengal government was trying to protect the perpetrators of the heinous crime. Participating in a Bangla Bandh rally, Suvendu said: "The BJP is also protesting incessant lathi charge and the use of brute force, tear gas and water canons on the agitators who were marching peacefully yesterday during the Nabanna Abhiyan of the Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj."
Bangla Bandh Violence Spreads To Arjun Singh's Area
Police and BJP supporters clashed in front of BJP leader Arjun Singh's house in Bhatpara's Meghna More. TMC leader Somnath Shyam was also involved in the skirmish. He claimed that Arjun Singh was forcing the Meghna Mills to shut down, an allegation BJP denied. Both the leaders came face to face in the incident.
BJP Leaders, Workers Detained
In Nandigram's Reyapara, tension mounted as BJP workers tried to pull down police barricades. Police had to resort to lathicharge on BJP workers. Reacting to the incident Subhendu Adhikari called for Gherao of Reyapara police outpost on Thursday.
Several BJP workers and leaders were detained during the 'Bangla Bandh' violence across Bengal. Among the leaders detained was Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillor Sajal Ghosh, who allegedly was forcing shops in the Koley Market area in Sealdah to down their shutters. The BJP, however, claimed that he was only requesting people with folded hands to support the 'Bangla Bandh'.
Former Rajya Sabha MP of the BJP Roopa Ganguly was also detained after she and her supporters allegedly clashed with the police. She was detained near the Gariahat More in Kolkata.
BJP's former Hooghly Lok Sabha seat MP Locket Chatterjee during the 'Bangla Bandh' protest near Kolkata's Bata Chowk. The leader and her supporters raised slogans against Mamata Banerjee and clashed with the police in the area.
Railway Services Disrupted
Railway services on the Laxmikantapur and Diamond Harbour routes south of Sealdah were disrupted. Trains were also stopped on the Howrah-Tarakeshwar route and a blockade was staged in Gobra.
A rail blockade was led by BJP leader Kaustab Bagchi in Barrackpore. However, he was chased away by TMC workers. BJP and TMC workers clashed at the Barrackpore station.
Cop Loses Partial Vision
Kolkata Police East Division sergeant and cybercell in-charge Debashish Chakraborty sustained an injury in his left eye when he was hit by a stone hurled by a 'Nabanna Abhijan' protester. Doctors said he was blinded in the left eye. He was operated on at night. However, after the operation his family was informed that his left eye's retina was damaged and he was unlikely to regain complete vision.
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