BJP supporters block traffic during a rally in West Bengal. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)
West Bengal Bandh today: The BJP has called off the 12-hour bandh in West Bengal two hours prior to the scheduled time terming the protests as “complete success”. BJP’s state president Dilip Ghosh held a press conference in the state and said never in the history of Bengal, such peaceful protests have been held. The protest was called upon the death of two students during a demonstration over the appointment of school teachers in Islampur area in North Dinajpur district.
Following the burning of buses and pelting of stones, the Calcutta High Court had on Wednesday ordered the state government to ensure normalcy in the state and 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.
READ | ABVP, SFI protest Islampur deaths
State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee on Tuesday accused the BJP of stalling development in the state by calling the bandh. The BJP, on the other hand, said the state government was “forcefully” trying to foil the bandh.
A protest against the deaths of the students, in Kolkata on Sunday.
The state BJP unit termed the bandh as a "complete success" and have called it off two hours ahead of scheduled time, PTI reported. The 12-hour bandh started at 6.00 am.
"As the bandh has been successful, so we have decided to call it off two hours ahead of the scheduled time," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh told reporters. "The visuals that we have seen and the reports that we have received from the districts prove that the shutdown was a success," Ghosh added.
During the press conference, BJP's state president Dilip Ghosh said in the history of Bengal, never have such peaceful protests been held before. Further he said, 95 per cent of shops were shut in the city and the shopkeepers were forced to shut the shops for three days without any threats.
Relating to the bus fire on the Brabourne Road, Ghosh said "we do not support its moral" and demanded if their staff was had any involvement in the bus fire. "Trinamool has attacked the BJP to tarnish the image, unrest has spread," said Ghosh.
A man walks past closed shops during a general strike called by India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Sayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. According to the organizations the strike was called to protest against what they call the rise of police and political atrocities under the West Bengal state government rule. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Commuters travel in a tram car during a general strike called by India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Sayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. According to the organizations the strike was called to protest against what they call the rise of police and political atrocities under the West Bengal state government rule. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
City landmark Howrah Bridge across the Hooghly River witnesses relatively less traffic during a general strike called by India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Sayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. According to the organizations the strike was called to protest against what they call the rise of police and political atrocities under the West Bengal state government rule. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Following the directions of the high court to publicise through electronic media helpline numbers ensuring normal life in the state, a press release was issued by the South Eastern Railway stating the helpline numbers 033-2230 3826 or 033-230 3826.
The high court order was passed as incidents of violence were reported in the state during the bandh. Three state-run buses were lit and stones were pelted at vehicles in Islampur, place where the two students were killed. Fire brigades had rushed to the spot to douse the fire, PTI reported. The BJP protesters blocked the road resulting in traffic halt and the police in turn resorted to baton charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The BJP supporters had also blocked NH34 in North Dinajpur. Some BJP supporters have been detained, said a police official, reported PTI.
Passengers of a bus of the C7 route at Howrah station were forced to leave the bus by two people and set the bus on fire. Along with the bus, three cars were set on fire as well. It is reported police is trying to catch hold of the miscreants.
The Calcutta High Court has directed the state government to ensure that normal life is not disrupted during the bandh, PTI reported. 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.
The state DGP, IG and district magistrates too have been directed to ensure that general public are not intimidated by the bandh organisers and no rail or road traffic is blocked. Essential services like hospitals, telecommunications, milk and other necessary supplies are directed to be maintained, and schools and colleges are allowed to function by court's order.
Court was hearing a petition submitted by the general secretary of All India Minority Forum which stated train services were affected in several places, owing to the bandh call.
The BJP has scheduled to hold a press conference in the head office of state president Dilip Ghosh in the afternoon.
Express Photo by Partha Paul
A huge police contingent has been deployed in the city to avoid any untoward incident during the shutdown and no untoward incident has been reported in the metropolis since 6 am, a police official said. "The BJP has been trying to foment trouble in some areas and instil 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," senior minister and TMC leader Partha Chatterjee said.
Clashes broke out between TMC and BJP supporters in West Midnapore, West Burdwan, South Dinajpur and North Dinajpur districts when rallies taken out by the BJP in support of the bandh came face to face with processions taken out by the TMC denouncing it. The crowd was later dispersed and the situation brought 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".
Express photo by Partha Paul
Express Photo by Pratha Paul
Express Photo by Shubham Dutta
Party workers are staging blockades at Chengail, Andul and Ramrajatala stations in the Howrah-Kharagpur section of the South Eastern Railway, affecting suburban train services in the section, SER Central Public Relations Officer Sanjoy Ghosh said. No untoward incident was, however, reported during the blockades. The state government had issued a notification for its employees asking them to attend office on the bandh day. There will be no holiday on the day before or after the Bangla Bandh. Even a half holiday will not be sanctioned on the day, it said.
BJP supporters request vendors to shut shop in Hatibagan area Bachasa tied with police
Police have arrested 24 bandh supporters from Bagdogra and Naxalbari areas, reports ANI
BJP supporters have blocked NH34 at tungidighi in North Dinajpur. Express video by Subham DuttaWest Bengal Bandh LIVE | BJP supporters blocked NH34 at tungidighi in North Dinajpu pic.twitter.com/bLXwmHdJDu— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) September 26, 2018
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. BJP has called a statewide bandh today
Around 12 Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members were detained after clashing with police during a rally from Swami Vivekananda’s ancestral house in North Kolkata to Esplanade, to protest the killing of two students in Islampur. After reaching Esplanade, the protesters burnt effigies of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and demanded the immediate resignation of state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee. Read More
An empty street in Islampur, where a clash erupted between police and students after they stopped two newly-recruited teachers from entering Daribhit High School. Photo by Joyprakash Das