The 12-hour strike called in West Bengal by the BJP commenced today at 6 am. Following the BJP’s call for organisations to close their markets, the West Bengal government stated that daily life will continue as normal and that there will be minimal disruption.
However, the people’s daily life in the state was affected partially by the strike. The shutdown has been called to protest the action by police taken against demonstrators during a march to the state secretariat.
Demonstrations in Sealdah, Shyambazar
Demonstrations were held by BJP workers in several areas including Sealdah, Shyambazar, Burrabazar and Wipro More. However, the police quickly removed them and cleared the roads for traffic.
An Eastern Railway official said that the supporters of the bandh blocked train tracks in 49 places in the state. Although blockades were lifted at most locations, they persisted at nine stations, primarily in the Sealdah South section, he noted.
BJP workers protested at the Bongaon station in North 24 Parganas, the Gocharan station in South 24 Parganas, and the Murshidabad station in support of the bandh.
Traffic disruption on roads
BJP supporters’ picketing on roads caused temporary disruptions to public transport services in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Siliguri, and Malda in northern West Bengal, as well as in Purulia, Bankura, and other locations in the southern part of the state.
In Malda, TMC and BJP activists clashed over a road blockade, prompting police intervention to break up the confrontation. In Alipurduar, BJP supporters scuffled with police while attempting to block a major road, chanting slogans like “dafa ek dabi ek, mukhyomantrir padatyag” (one-point demand, chief minister’s resignation).
The workers also clashed in Nadia.
Locket Chatterjee detained
BJP leader Locket Chatterjee has been detained by the Kolkata Police following the Nabanna Abhijan violence. She was protesting at the city’s Bata Chowk along with other BJP workers.
“Nothing will happen, the more they detain, the more people will join the protest. This is the anger of people and they are on the road. Police can detain people but not to the idea.” the detained leader said.
(With agency inputs)