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PremiumBengal Bandh Highlights: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led 12-hour-long Bandh came into action from 6 am today. The BJP West Bengal unit called for the strike in response to the chaos that gripped the streets of Kolkata amid Nabanna Abhijan protest rally on Tuesday. The saffron party is protesting the police administration's strict action against the protesters on Tuesday.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumder said the bandh was called in opposition to the "violence on the student agitation" during the protest march.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee chief advisor Alapan Bandopadhyay said, "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." Transport services will remain operational, and shops, marketplaces and other business establishments have been asked to remain open, the chief advisor said.
Kolkata police on Tuesday used water cannons to disperse protestors at Santragachi in Howrah during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' march, as they climbed onto and broke through police barricades and clashed with officers.
The protestors also dragged away barricades, prompting police to respond with lathi charges and tear gas.
The rally, which was organized in response to the ongoing controversy surrounding the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, started with people assembling at Santragachi before moving from College Square in Kolkata.
In preparation for the protest, police had established heavy security around the West Bengal state secretariat.
Get all the Kolkata Protest LIVE Updates here on LiveMint.
Bengal Bandh LIVE: JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar highlighted remarks made by President Droupadi Murmu to lash out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday.
“Maintaining law and order is responsibility of the CM. We believe that Mamata Banerjee should have a basic understanding of the fact that if the President has made such remarks, then it is shameful for them and the CM not being aware of her responsibility is concerning for the parliamentary democracy of this country," he said.
Bengal Bandh LIVE: Several BJP leaders, including former MPs Roopa Ganguly and Locket Chatterjee, Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya and MLA Agnimitra Paul, were detained for blocking roads since the morning. Party workers also clashed with the police at several places across West Bengal on Wednesday as they tried to enforce a 12-hour shutdown.
Bengal Bandh LIVE: BJP leader Priyangu Pandey alleged on Wednesday that people belonging to TMC attacked and fired on his car in the Bhatpara area of North 24 Parganas district. He also alleged that bombs were thrown on his car and then 6-7 rounds of firing were done.
"Today I was going to our leader Arjun Singh's residence. We moved some distance and the road was blocked by a jetting machine from Bhatpara Municipality. The moment our car stopped, around 50-60 people targeted the vehicle. 7 to 8 bombs were thrown at my vehicle and then 6-7 round firing was done. This is a joint conspiracy of TMC and the police. They planned my murder. The police supported and gave information. My security was withdrawn and then this incident happened," he said.
Bengal Bandh LIVE: Jalpaiguri MP Jayanta Kumar Roy's car was allegedly gheraoed by TMC workers in Siliguri on Wednesday. A stone was also reportedly pelted at the vehicle. Roy left the spot after a while and police personnel remain present.
Bengal Bandh LIVE: Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini strongly condemned the Kolkata rape-murder case on Wednesday and voiced support for agitating BJP workers.
“What happened in Bengal is so wrong. Action should be taken…BJP workers are protesting over it…and that is, indeed, right. An atrocity against a woman took place and action should be taken at the earliest. I request Mamata ji to facilitate what is right in this regard and not delay it. The entire country is waiting…The perpetrator should indeed be punished," she said.
Bengal Bandh LIVE: The Centre has asked states to implement a slew of measures to ensure the safety of medics at workplaces — including night patrolling on hospital premises and regulating access for people to key areas.
In a letter to chief secretaries and director generals of police on August 23, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra drew their attention to the issue of incidents of violence in medical institutions and the recent protests following the Kolkata incident.
The letter called for the formation of a hospital security committee and a violence prevention committee, comprising senior doctors and administrative officers as members to strategise and implement appropriate security measures.
It asked them to ensure regulation of access for people and patients' relatives to key areas of a hospital, and stressed on the need for a strict visitor pass policy for a patient's attenders or relatives.
The letter called for a provision to ensure the safe movement of resident doctors and nurses within different blocks, hostel buildings and other areas of a hospital during night duty hours. It asked hospital to ensure proper lighting of all areas of a hospital.
Bengal Bandh LIVE: The CBI on Wednesday began the process of conducting a polygraph test on Kolkata Police ASI Anup Dutta to decipher his alleged links with Sanjay Roy. The former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was arrested earlier this month in connection with the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.
Bengal Bandh LIVE: Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika lashed out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday amid continued protests in the state.
“She can't bully, threaten us. I seriously condemn her. She can't control law and order in her state and is threatening us. It will not happen in Assam, I am assuring. I would like to request Mamata Banerjee, she is a long-time CM, she should know how to speak in public. I can assure, she can't do anything here until the BJP govt is here and HB Sarma is the CM," the BJP leader said.
Bengal Bandh LIVE: In her first comment on Kolkata doctor's rape-murder, President Droupadi Murmu told PTI on Wednesday that she was ‘dismayed and horrified’ by the recent rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor. She also slammed the ‘collective amnesia’ displayed by society when it came to crimes against women and called for India to take action.
“Even as students, doctors and citizens were protesting in Kolkata, criminals remained on prowl elsewhere…Very often a ‘deplorable mindset’ sees the female as a lesser human being…less powerful, less capable, less intelligent. Society needs ‘honest, unbiased self-introspection’…ask itself some difficult questions. In 12 years since Nirbhaya, countless rapes have been forgotten by society. This 'collective amnesia' is obnoxious. Societies scared to face history resort to collective amnesia. It is now time for India to face history squarely. Let us deal with this perversion in comprehensive manner to curb it right at the beginning," President Murmu told PTI.
Bengal Bandh LIVE: Two people were hospitalised with bullet injuries to the head on Wednesday following clashes at Bhatpara. BJP leader Priyangu Pandey has alleged that people belonging to TMC attacked and fired on his car in the Bhatpara area of North 24 Parganas district. He also alleged that bombs were thrown on his car and then 6-7 rounds of firing were done.
“There was an incident that happened at 8-30-9 am. Eight persons have been arrested, four out of them are seen in the video which we received. The investigation is on. The reason of the confrontation or the firing is not yet known. We are not sure whether those two injured persons have received any bullet injury or not. We are inquiring it from the doctors. The situation is quite peaceful," said Barrackpore CP Alok Rajoria.
Bengal Bandh Live: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that the state government would introduce a bill in the next 10 days to ensure the punishment for rapists.
"Next week, we will call an Assembly session and pass a Bill within 10 days to ensure capital punishment for rapists. We will send this Bill to the Governor. If he doesn't pass the bill, we will sit outside Raj Bhavan. This Bill must be passed and he cannot evade accountability this time," she said.
Bengal Bandh Live: Mamata Banerjee claimed that TMC government wants justice for the victims of R G Kar Hospital and College incident. She further criticised the 'Bandh' and supported the police actions on the protestors of Nabanna Abhijan rally.
"We have dedicated this day to the RG Kar doctor. We want justice but BJP today called for a bandh. They don't want justice, they are only trying to defame Bengal. We don't support this bandh. BJP never demanded the resignations of the CMs of UP, MP and even Manipur. We saw pictures from yesterday (Nabanna Abhiyan rally), I salute the police for handling the situation well." she said.
She further said that the rapist will be rightfully punished.
"For this, there is only one punishment- to hang till death," she said.
Bengal Bandh Live: Kolkata doctors on Wednesday took out a rally in solidarity with RG Kar doctor rape and murder case. The rally coincided with BJP's call for a 12-hour Bangla Bandh across West Bengal.
Ahead of the rally, Dr Mazumder of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital said, "Earlier our protest march was only for doctors, but today we have called everyone to join us...Yesterday, none of our doctors were present..."
Bengal Bandh Live: Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday, questioned CBI probe in the Kolkata Doctor rape case.
“Sixteen days have passed since CBI took over doctor's rape-murder probe, where is justice," said Mamata Banerjee at Kolkata rally.
Bengal Bandh Live: Amid the statewide protests on Wednesday, two people with bullet injuries were admitted to Manipal Hospitals Broadway with bullet injuries to the head, an official from the hospital told ANI.
The injured individuals were admitted to the hospital at around 11.30 am in the morning and their treatment is undergoing. Doctors are assessing their condition and have kept them under close supervision in the ICU.
"Two persons have been admitted to Manipal Hospitals Broadway, Kolkata, at around 11:30 am with bullet injuries to the head following political clashes at Bhatpara earlier today. Doctors are assessing their condition and keeping them under close observation at the ICU," said a Manipal Hospital official.
Bengal Bandh Live: We will pass an amendment to state laws in assembly next week and fix death by hanging to perpetrators of rape, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said at Kolkata rally on Wednesday.
Bengal Bandh Live: Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar on Wednesday joined the Bengal Bandh led by BJP. Majumdar criticised the West Bengal CM for the alleged police action on protesters during the Nabanna march rally on Tuesday.
"Kolkata HC has given us permission for a seven-day Dharna. We will start it from tomorrow...We welcome their verdict...There is no democracy here, police cannot stop firing but only stop BJP's protest. The police can arrest BJP leaders but not the accused," he told reporters.
Bengal Bandh Live: Amid the BJP Bandh called across the state, West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front holds a protest rally in solidarity with the Kolkata doctor rape case. The doctors have been protesting for weeks demanding strict punishment for the culprits behind the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital
Bengal Bandh Live: Women and Child Minister Annapurna Devi on Wednesday lashed out at the Bengal government for failing to protect the women of the state.
Despite having a woman chief minister, situation of women in West Bengal worsening, WCD Minister Annapurna Devi told PTI
Bengal Bandh Live: The video of the alleged TMC attack on BJP leader Priyangu Pandey's vehicle has been widely shared on social media. BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari shared the video of the attack on social media.
“This is how Mamata Banerjee & TMC are trying to force BJP off the street. The Bandh is successful and people have supported it wholeheartedly. The toxic cocktail of Police & TMC Goons won't be able to scare BJP," wrote Suvendhu Adhikari while sharing the video on X.
Bengal Bandh Live: Amid the ongoing protests across the state, IndiGo and SpiceJte have issued advisory for people who are travelling from Kolkata in view of the 12-hour bandh. The airline IndiGo, in its advisory, has said that people commuting from Kolkata, may experience road blockages and diversions en route the airport.
Bengal Bandh Live: Congress leader MP Manickam Tagore criticised the BJP for politicising the rape and murder case of the trainee woman doctor at RG Kar Hospital. Tagore also said that politicising the issue would not help anyone.
“We all know that the Bengal doctor's rape case is very sensitive and now after the Supreme Court intervention it has come to the CBI. We should all try to wait for the correct investigation to happen and the truth should come out. Politicising it for political gains is not going to help anybody," ANI quoted Tagore.
Bengal Bandh Live: Calcutta High Court dismissed PIL filed against Bengal Bandh, reported Live Law. According to the report, the bench debarrd the litigant Sanjoy Das from filing any further PIL's due to the court's order in previous matter.
Bengal Bandh Live: Amid the 12-hour shutdown, BJP workers took out a rally in Kolkata's Bahu Bazar area on Wednesday. Meanwhile, several protesters continued to block roads, railways and other serviced during Bengal Bandh.
Alipurduar, West Bengal: 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh' called by BJP to protest against the state government; bus services affected in the state.
Bengal Bandh Live: BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Wednesday extended support for the party's ‘Bengal Bandh’ and urged West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to not use ‘violence of police to intimidate people.’
"Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is failing repeatedly to cover the heinous crime against a woman doctor. She has tried to cover up the crime the day it was committed by calling it a suicide. The people of the state are angry against a sitting CM. There is no way that she should use police or violence to intimidate the people. What she should do is to bring the perpetrators to justice and to make sure there is a fair investigation," Rajeev said.
Bengal Bandh Live: BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Wednesday claimed that a nexus of police, anti-social elements, and political leaders is working in the state which led to the crime.
“There is a nexus of police, anti-social elements and political leaders in operation in Bengal. You would have seen that the rapist was travelling on police's bike, he was himself part of social police. If people associated with police are accused of rape, then how women safety will be ensured? It is shameful that in a state where the CM is a women, women are not safe and she is with the accused, then such kind of CM does not have any right to hold the chair. After Hitler, the biggest dictator who has come is Mamata Banerjee because there is no democracy there and only the things that she say is right," BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya told PTI.
Bengal Bandh Live: Kolkata Police continued detaining BJP leaders amid the ongoing 12-hour-bandh across the state. BJP leader Locket Chatterjee, Rahul Sinha, etc were detained by the police today.
Bengal Bandh Live: BJP leader Priyangu Pandey who accused the TMC of attacking his car with bomb said that his car was targeted by nearly 60 people.
"This morning, I left my house to reach Arjun Singh's residence at around 8.15 am. Just three minutes after leaving the house, the road was blocked by a jetting machine. Around 50-60 people targeted my vehicle and hurled bombs. After that, 6-7 rounds of bullets were fired," says BJP leader Priyangu Pandey told PTI.
Bengal Bandh Live: Two people were injured in an alleged attack and firing incident on the BJP leader Priyangu Pandey's car, earlier today, in Bhatpara of North 24 Parganas
Bengal Bandh Live: “No one stopped us... our passengers were saying that rail services have been affected. What is there to be afraid of... it is matter of regret, people are expressing regret. The mother who has lost... let's see whether justice is delivered or not (referring to RG Kar Medical College trainee doctor's rape and murder)," an auto rickshaw driver told ANI.
Bengal Bandh Live: Kolkata Police detains BJP leader Locket Chatterjee who joined protests at Kolkata's Bata Chowk
Bengal Bandh Live: BJP leader Arjun Singh on Wednesday claimed that the party leader Priyangyu Pandey's car was attacked and firing was done. Seven round of firing was done.
“Priyangu Pandey is our party leader. Today his car was attacked...and firing was done...The driver has been shot...7 round firing was done...This was done in the presence of the ACP...Planning was done to kill Priyangu Pandey...TMC is left with no issue therefore they are doing these kinds of things...Two people are injured, one among them is serious," said Arjun Singh, BJP leader
Bengal Bandh Live: Amid the ongoing Bandh in the state, BJP worker has alleged that his car was attacked by TMC workers. Due to the attack, two people were injured
Bengal Bandh Live: The state police deployed during the BJP's Bandh called today, detained BJP leaders Locket Chatterjee, Rahul Sinha detained in Kolkata
Bengal Bandh Live: BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari on Wednesday said that the Bandh called in Bengal by BJP is the represents the call of the people of Bengal.
“The people are tired of tyrant Mamata Banerjee and they are tired of seeing this fascist leader using the might of entire administration to quell and stop the protest. People have lost faith in Mamata Banerjee and they believe the administration cannot provide justice to the RG Kar rape and murder victim. People are supporting our protest immensely and Mamata Banerjee is using her brute force to stop it. The call of protest is not just by BJP but by the people. Mamata Banerjee should resign in the interest of people," BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari told PTI.
Bengal Bandh Live: Amid the ongoing 12-hour bandh in West Bengal, government bus drivers were advised to drive buses while wearing helmets. Many of them expressed fear as the protesters continue to hinder transportation services across the state today.
A bus driver told ANI, "We are wearing helmets because of the bandh today...The department has given us the helmets..."
Another bus diver told ANI, “I am a bit scared. It is for safety. It is a government order. The helmet is creating some sort of problem with driving."
Bengal Bandh Live: BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar, along with party workers, attempted to implement the 12-hour general strike in Bengal (Bengal Bandh) to protest the police action against participants of Tuesday's Nabanna rally.
Bengal Bandh Live: Nearly, 5000 police personnel have been deployed across the state to quell any incident of violence during the ongoing bandh, called by the BJP workers.
Bengal Bandh Live: BJP Bengal workers, in a bid to implement the 12-hour bandh in the state, tried to close Kolkata metro station gate on Wednesday, reported India Today. Seven people have been detained in the incident.
Bengal Bandh Live: In the wake of the ongoing Kolkata Bandh, police personnel are deployed everywhere to maintain Law and Order in the state, Dendup Sherpa, Additional SP told ANI.
Bengal Bandh Live: BJP leader Agnimitra Paul on Wednesday said that the party is not forcing people to join the bandh, but rather it should come from people's heart.
"We are asking for support from people. It should come from people's hearts... We are not forcing people, but just requesting them to support our Bandh. Yesterday, the police tortured a lot. They pelted stones, we even have a picture of this. They used tear gas and water cannons," says BJP leader Agnimitra Paul.
Bengal Bandh Live: Amid the ongoing bandh, heavy police was deployed across Kolkata to deal with any untoward incident amid the ongoing ‘Bengal Bandh’.
Bengal Bandh Live: BJP National Spokesperson CR Kesavan on Wednesday said that there has been a tidal wave of justice rise in West Bengal.
“The brutal mayhem unleashed by the merciless Mamata Sarkar is not just vicious and vindictive, it is inhumane. The ruthless TMC government yesterday attempted to cold-bloodedly crush and choke our youth and students who are crusading for justice. The visuals which came out of police brutality against the peaceful protests and march by our students were horrifying. We saw how the police unleashed water cannons, fired tear gas and used hockey sticks to beat students in railway stations. Not only that, the women and senior citizens were not even spared and manhandled by the Kolkata police," said CR Kesavan.
Bengal Bandh Live: The BJP has called for a 12-hour Bengal Bandh, which began at 6 am on Wednesday. Amid the ongoing bandh, shops are likely to remain closed. Public transportation will also remain affected today. (Read full story)
Bengal Bandh Live: BJP's 12-hour ‘Bengal Bandh’ began today morning. Meanwhile, several government bus drivers were seen on duty wearing helmets.
“Today is bandh, so we are wearing helmets...," an on-duty driver told ANI.
