KOLKATA: West Bengal stood witness to yet another episode of scattered incidents of violence, torching of buses and clashes, during a 12-hour bandh called in the state by the BJP to protest the death of two students in North Dinajpur district. BJP workers clashed with Trinamool activists and fought pitched battles with police at some places during the shutdown. Around 1600 people were arrested. While the national party called the bandh a success due to “people's support”, calling it off two hours ahead of schedule, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called the shutdown a “complete failure”, saying the people of Bengal rejected the “culture of shutdown and bandhs”.
He main areas affected were North Dinajpur, West Midnapore, West Burdwan, and South Dinajpur. Two state-run buses were set on fire and stones were pelted at vehicles at Islampur, and fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and doused the flames. BJP workers squatted on the road at Islampur, stopping traffic movement, after which the police resorted to baton charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowds.
Protesters also blocked National Highway 34 in North Dinajpur. ADGP Anuj Sharma said 1600 people were arrested, adding there were a few cases of untoward incidents in north Bengal and Jhargram. He said action would be taken against those found responsible for vandalising properties under The West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act, 2017. Attendance in government and private offices were normal.
A district police official said stones were pelted at buses and tyres set afire on the road to stop traffic in Midnapore district. In Malda, bandh supporters allegedly vandalised a panchayat office. In an isolated incident, a group of men intercepted and threatened the driver of a school bus carrying students of a public school.
