Bengal Bandh: Bharatiya Janata Party, Trinamool Workers Clash In Kolkata, Nadia; Several BJP Leaders Detained

The Bharatiya Janata Party and ruling Trinamool Congress workers clashed at several places in West Bengal on Wednesday (28 August) amid the 12-hour bandh called by BJP.

BJP and TMC workers reportedly clashed in Kolkata's Munshi Bazar and Nadia district, among other areas.

The shutdown partially affected daily life in the state with many people choosing to remain indoors apprehending trouble on the roads.

Schools and colleges were open, though the number of students was lesser. In many private offices, attendance was low with employees asked to work from home.

In Malda, activists of the TMC and BJP engaged in a brawl over the blocking of a road. Police intervened to disperse the two groups.

In Alipurduar, BJP activists engaged in a scuffle with the police as they tried to block an arterial road.

Several BJP leaders were detained across the state for attempting to enforce the shutdown.

BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari held protest in Nandigram in support of the party's bandh call.

"Walked alongside @BJP4Bengal Karyakartas at Nandigram in support of the state wide Bandh called by BJP to protest against the state sponsored efforts to derail the RG Kar investigation & protect the perpetrators of the heinous crime and the incessant lathi charge and use of brute force, tear gas & water canons on the agitators who were marching peacefully yesterday during the Nabanna Abhiyan of the Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj," Adhikari wrote in a post on X.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacked the BJP over the Bandh, accusing the party of defaming Bengal.

"BJP has called a bandh because they want dead bodies. We want justice and death by hanging for the accused. They (BJP) have moved away from the goal of demanding justice for the victim. Now they are defaming Bengal. The BJP is shameless. They are indulging in a conspiracy," she said.

The Chief Minister also said the state government will call for an Assembly session and introduced a Bill demanding death penalty for rapists.

She also questioned the progress in the CBI's investigation into the sensitive case and questioned "where is justice".

"I asked for five days' time, but the case was sent to the CBI. They don't want justice. They want delay. It has been 16 days, where is justice?" she asked.

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