Drivers of government buses joined their duty wearing helmets in West Bengal on Wednesday amid a call for a Bangla Bandh by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Fearing incidents of violence, the drivers took this step as the bandh started at 6 am and will continue till 6 pm.
The bandh was called by the saffron party in response to a police crackdown on protestors in Kolkata during 'Nabanna Abhijan' demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the rape-murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College.
"Today is bandh, so we are wearing helmets," a driver told media reporters in Howrah, adding: "We are a bit scared."
Shortly after BJP gave a call for the bandh, the West Bengal government issued a notification stating that all the government offices will remain open on August 28. The notification also stated that all the state government employees except those facing difficulties or are on leave, would have to report for duty on Wednesday or face show-cause for their unauthorised absence.
Alapan Bandopadhyay, chief advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the government will not allow any bandh on Wednesday.
"We urge people not to participate in it. All steps shall be taken to ensure that normal life is unaffected," Bandopadhyay said.
Large-scale violence was witnessed on the streets of Kolkata as police lobbed tear gas shells, unleashed water canons, and resoterd to lathi-charge at the protestors during the 'Nabanna Abhijan'.