Incidents of Violence, Vandalism Mark BJP-Called Bengal Bandh

Clashes broke in West Midnapore, West Burdwan, South Dinajpur and North Dinajpur districts.

Kolkata: Sporadic incidents of violence and vandalism were reported from some West Bengal districts when BJP and Trinamool Congress supporters clashed during a 12-hour bandh. The bandh had been called by the saffron party on Wednesday to protest the killing of two students during a demonstration over the appointment of school teachers in Islampur area in North Dinajpur district, police said. Clashes broke in West Midnapore, West Burdwan, South Dinajpur and North Dinajpur districts.

Stones were pelted at buses and tyres were set afire on roads to stop traffic in Midnapore district. Senior TMC leaders and ministers were seen on the streets trying to ensure that life remained normal and the common people did not face any problem. Stone pelting incidents were also reported in Shyambazar and Sealdah areas in the metropolis. A huge police contingent was reportedly rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.

Senior minister and TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said the situation was “completely under control” and normal life was “not at all affected”. “The BJP has been trying to foment trouble in some areas and instill a sense of fear among the people. But the situation is completely under control and normal life has not at all been affected. We are monitoring the situation,” he added.


BJP leader and MP Roopa Ganguly took out a rally in Gariahat area in support of the strike and accused the TMC government for “trying to stifle dissent” in the state.


Train services were disrupted for some time at a few stations under Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway in the state. No untoward incident was, however, reported during the blockades put up by bandh supporters at the stations, a police official said.

Bandh supporters had squatted on the tracks at Barasat, Krishnagar and some stations in Sealdah division for around ten minutes in the morning, but the blockade has been lifted, an Eastern Railway spokesman said.

A huge police contingent has been deployed in the city to avoid any untoward incident during the shutdown and no such incident has been reported in the metropolis since 6 am, a police official said.

A report in NDTV said that while the opposition Congress and Left parties have protested the Islampur incident, they haven’t supported the BJP’s call to a bandh call. Both parties have reportedly accused the TMC and the BJP of trying to communalise the incident. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is in Europe at the moment, has ordered extra police force to be deployed to stop BJP activists from disrupting normal life. She also alleged that the BJP was behind the killing of the two students in North Dinajpur district and is now trying to derive political mileage out of the issue by calling a bandh.

The Calcutta high court, meanwhile, on Wednesday directed the West Bengal government to ensure that normal life is not hit in the state during the 12-hour bandh called by the BJP. The high court directed the state DGP, IG and district magistrates to ensure that general public are not intimidated by the bandh organisers and that there is no blockade of rail and road traffic.

Passing an order on a PIL against the shutdown, the court directed that essential services like hospitals, telecommunications, milk and other necessary supplies are maintained, and schools and colleges be allowed to function. It also directed the central government to ensure that railways and metro railway services are unaffected.

The court asked the West Bengal government to publicise through electronic media helpline numbers for the general public during the bandh period. Disposing of the petition, the bench also directed the state government to ensure adequate availability of public transport during the duration of the bandh and thereafter.

(With PTI inputs)