The BJP called for a 12-hour statewide bandh in West Bengal, protesting against police action during a march to the state secretariat, Nabanna, following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital. The bandh led to partial disruptions in normal life, particularly in Kolkata, where fewer buses, auto-rickshaws, and taxis were seen on the roads, though schools and many shops remained open.
The protest, however, turned violent in certain areas, with reports of clashes between BJP and Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers. One of the more serious incidents occurred in Bhatpara, North 24 Parganas, where BJP leader Priyangu Pandey alleged that TMC supporters attacked his car and fired multiple rounds, injuring his driver. BJP leader Arjun Singh claimed that the attack happened in the presence of an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), with two people being injured, one of them critically.
In Kolkata, several BJP workers were detained as they attempted to enforce the bandh by forcibly closing shops and obstructing traffic. The Calcutta High Court had earlier dismissed a petition challenging the BJP’s bandh call, allowing the protest to go ahead. Despite the bandh, heavy police deployment in the city helped maintain some degree of normalcy, although the usual weekday hustle was notably diminished.
Train services were significantly disrupted in several parts of the state as BJP workers blocked railway tracks in 49 locations under the Eastern Railway’s jurisdiction, with the Sealdah south section being the most affected. In north Bengal, drivers of state-run buses were seen wearing helmets as a precautionary measure against potential violence.
In the politically sensitive region of Nandigram, BJP activists blocked roads, causing traffic disruptions, while similar demonstrations were reported in Bankura. At Shyambazar metro station in Kolkata, seven BJP workers were detained for attempting to shut the gates.
BJP MLA Agnimitra Pal, speaking from Bhabanipur, criticized the police and the state government, accusing them of failing to protect women and using excessive force against protesters. She called on residents not to take their vehicles out, reflecting the party's attempt to create a visible impact of the bandh in key areas.
The state government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, issued a stern directive mandating that all government offices remain open and that employees report to duty or face disciplinary action. Banerjee, in a pointed response, dedicated the foundation day of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad to the memory of the murdered doctor, reaffirming her government’s stance on maintaining law and order.
The bandh followed a day of large-scale violence in Kolkata during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' protest march organized by a newly established student body, which demanded Banerjee's resignation. The protest had led to over 200 arrests across the state, further escalating tensions between the ruling TMC and the BJP.
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