Bengal in Turmoil: Clashes Erupt During BJP’s 12-Hour Bangla Bandh
West Bengal is witnessing intense clashes as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) enforces a 12-hour “Bangla Bandh” on August 28, 2024, in protest against police action during the previous day’s ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally. The rally, organized by the Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj, aimed to demand justice for the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College.
The BJP, led by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, vowed to “stall” West Bengal if police repression continues. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, strongly opposed the bandh, urging people not to participate. TMC and BJP workers clashed in Nadia, and the situation in Kolkata remains tense.
The bandh has disrupted government bus services in Siliguri and Paschim Medinipur, with drivers and conductors wearing helmets for safety. BJP leaders praised student participation in the bandh, while TMC leaders accused the BJP of forcibly shutting down schools.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are investigating the RG Kar Medical College case, focusing on the accused Sanjay Roy and former principal Sandip Ghosh.
As protests continue, both sides remain defiant, with the BJP calling for Mamata Banerjee’s resignation and the TMC condemning the bandh’s impact on ordinary citizens. The state remains on edge as tensions escalate.
