Kolkata rape-murder: Shutdown call partially affects life in West Bengal; several BJP leaders detained

‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ rally

Pertinently violence broke out at the streets of Kolkata after police allegedly used force to disperse the demonstrators during ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ rally. Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumder had called for a ‘12-hour bandh’ in the state to condemn the police action.

Earlier ‘Paschim Banga Chatra Samaj’ and other groups jointly organized a protest march to West Bengal Secretariat ‘Nabanna’ against the rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor.

The rally called ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ started from the College Square in the capital of West Bengal, amid tight security cover around the West Bengal state secretariat. The protesters gathered at the Santragachi area in Howrah chanting slogans to demand justice for the woman doctor.

Union Minister and BJP West Bengal President urged Governor CV Ananda Bose to release the students detained during ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ protest rally.

“The detention violates their democratic right to protest,” he wrote in a letter to Governor, adding, “many students have been detained, and the state police used excessive force against the peaceful student activists during the protest rally”.

Meanwhile the BJP which is in opposition in West Bengal alleged that two of its workers were shot at in Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas district on Aug 27.

Police denied the charge and said that the two men were beaten up by some people outside Anglo-India Jute Mill. The injured persons were shifted to the Bhatpara State General Hospital for treatment, according to police.

Former BJP MP Arjun Singh alleged that miscreants linked to the Trinamool Congress fired the shots. The ruling party rejected the allegation.

Extending his support to the party’s ‘Bengal Bandh’ call, BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Aug 28 said that the Bengal residents are dissatisfied with Chief Minister as she is using brute force to intimidate people.

”Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has miserably failed to cover up the heinous crime against a woman doctor. She called it a suicide to cover up. She can not use police force to intimidate the people angry against her,” Chandrasekhar said.

“She should bring the perpetrators to justice and to make sure there is a fair investigation,” he added.

Meanwhile, lashing out at BJP’s ‘Bengal Bandh’ call, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh on Aug 28 said that the people of West Bengal have rejected the “drama of anarchy.”

Ghosh termed the bandh as a “failed attempt” to create turmoil in the State.

“We all want justice in the rape and murder case. Mamata Banerjee too wants justice. The case is now in CBI’s hands. One accused has been arrested...now the CBI is investigating the matter,” Ghosh said.

“BJP is trying to create anarchy here. They attacked the police a day before and today they have called this bandh. Everything is normal in Bengal. The people of West Bengal have rejected BJP’s bandh.” he added.