West Bengal Bandh: BJP Terms Shutdown Complete Success
The 12-hour shutdown has been called by the Bharatiya Janta Party.
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The West Bengal unit of the BJP termed its shutdown in the state as a “complete success” and called it off two hours ahead of the scheduled time.
The party had called the 12-hour shutdown from 6 am to protest against the killing of two students in a clash over appointment of Urdu teachers at Islampur area in North Dinajpur district on 20 September.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated people of West Bengal for not participating in the bandh via tweet.
- The two students were killed when protesters clashed with the police over recruitment of an Urdu teacher at Daribhita High School in North Dinajpur district.
- Students had demanded that teachers be recruited for science and other subjects.
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TMC, BJP in War of Words Over Bandh, Security Beefed Up
The opposition BJP took out rallies in the city and the state on Tuesday in support of the 'Bangla bandh', while the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) countered it with processions denouncing it.
The BJP has said that the entire state is fed up with the "misrule of TMC". State president Dilip Ghosh said "the people are fed up with this government. They will participate in this strike peacefully. But if the TMC and its goons try to foil the strike, there will be repercussions."
TMC secretary general and state education minister Partha Chatterjee charged the BJP with trying to foment trouble in the state and said all steps will be taken to ensure normal life is not affected.
ABVP Protests Against Student Deaths
Students of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), held a protest rally against the killing of the two students in Islampur on Tuesday, 25 September.
Protesters Vandalise Buses in Midnapore
Protesters vandalised government buses and torched tyres in Midnapore on Wednesday, 26 September during the shutdown. Train services were delayed for five to ten minutes, but the blockade was lifted.
Train Movement Obstructed in Various Parts of the State
Train movement has been obstructed by protesters on Howrah-Bardhaman Main Line, Sealdah-Barasat Bongaon section of Eastern Railway Sealdah Division, Sealdah-Diamond Harbour Section, and Bandel Katwa section on Eastern Railways Howrah Division.
Police Arrest 24 Bandh Supporters in Siliguri
Police have arrested 24 people supportive of the bandh from Bagdogra and Naxalbari areas in Siliguri.
TMC Holds Protest Against BJP Led State Bandh
TMC (Trinamool Congress) holds a protest in retaliation to the 12-hour statewide bandh called by BJP.
Clashes Between TMC and BJP Workers Over Obstruction of Train Lines
Clashes erupted earlier between TMC and BJP workers when the latter were trying to obstruct railway lines.
Bandh Supporters Set Bus on Fire
A bus was set on fire by bandh supporters in North Dinajpur.
Calcutta HC Directs Bengal Govt to Ensure Normalcy Amidst Kolkata Bandh
The Calcutta High Court 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.
It directed the state Director general of police, Inspector-general of police and district magistrates to ensure that general public are not intimidated by the bandh organisers.
While observing that the Constitution recognises the right to peaceful protest, a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Debasish Kar Gupta and Justice Sampa Sarkar directed that action must be taken against people indulging in violence.
Bengal CM Warns of Stern Action Against Hooliganism
Peeved over the vandalism during the 12-hour shutdown in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warned that police will take stern action against those who indulged in hooliganism and violence.
Banerjee also directed the police to enforce The West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Act, 2017, that makes those burning, looting and damaging properties liable for punishment and compensating for the losses.
Mamata Banerjee Tweets to Congratulate People on Not Supporting Bandh
Following the protest, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a tweet congratulated people of the state for not participating BJP- led Bengal bandh.
“Congratulations to all the people of Bengal for not supporting the #bandh. Bengal is only state where bandhs will always fail. Today Bengal has shown the way. Work culture has changed. Negative and destructive work culture has ended,” she said.
BJP Terms Bengal Bandh Complete Success
The West Bengal unit of the BJP termed its shutdown in the state as a “complete success” and called it off two hours ahead of the scheduled time, PTI reported.
PM Assures Assistance to Affected Areas in Himachal due Heavy Rains
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inquired the losses caused by heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh through telephonic conversation with CM Jai Ram Thakur, ANI reported.
Thakur apprised PM that due to heavy rains, state had faced loss of Rs 1250 crore approx. PM assured all possible assistance by the Central Government.