The 'Bangla Bandh' was called by the BJP in protest against police action on participants of Tuesday's 'Nabanna Abhijan', a march to the secretariat. The march, described as unauthorised by police, was held to protest against the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The march was organised by a new group called the 'Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj', which describes itself as a student organisation with no political affiliations. The ruling Trinamool Congress, however, has accused the protesters of being backed by the Opposition BJP.
The BJP has demanded the resignation of CM Mamata Banerjee over the RG Kar Hospital incident, alleging a bid to derail the investigation. The Trinamool Congress, meanwhile, says the BJP is trying to stoke anarchy in the state.
Several BJP leaders, including former MPs Locket Chatterjee and Roopa Ganguly and MLA Agnimitra Paul, were detained on Wednesday for blocking roads and railway tracks since early morning.
Picketing by BJP supporters on the roads led to the disruption of public transport services in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, and Siliguri, among other parts of the state.
In Malda, activists of the TMC and BJP engaged in a brawl over the blocking of a road. Police intervened to disperse the two groups. Clashes were also reported from other parts of the state. There were also reports of BJP workers clashing with police in their bid to enforce the shutdown.
While schools and colleges were open on Wednesday, the attendance was reported to be lower than average. In many private offices, attendance was low with employees asked to work from home. Attendance was said to be normal in government offices.
BJP has alleged that miscreants threw bombs and shot at party leader Priyangu Pandey's car in 24 North Parganas on Wednesday.
Drivers of government buses reported to work wearing helmets as the situation remains tense in Bengal in the aftermath of the doctor's rape and murder on the premises of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital.