The state government has clearly stated that there will be no bandh in the state and had directed the state administration to take all necessary steps to ensure that daily life doesn't get disrupted
New Delhi: The state BJP has called for a 12-hour bandh today to protest the killing of two men in a clash with police in North Dinajpur district.
Sources said that students clashed with police when they asked for teachers and replacements, but the state government had provided Urdu teachers instead. This lead to a clash and police allegedly fired at the students and killed two - Rajesh Sarkar and Tapan Burman.
On Wednesday, BJP and ABVP workers took to streets and tried stopping traffic movement. The bandh supporters blocked railways lines in Howrah and Sealdah.
According to state BJP president Dilip Ghosh, the bandh was called to protest the inhumane killing of two students in Islampur by the police. The opposition BJP took out rallies in the city and the state on Tuesday in support of the 'Bangla bandh', while the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) countered it with processions denouncing it.
The state government has clearly stated that there will be no bandh in the state and had directed the state administration to take all necessary steps to ensure that daily life doesn't get disrupted. All district magistrates and superintendents of police have been directed to take immediate steps to counter any untoward incident. Anuj Sharma, ADG (Law and Order), said: “All superintendents of police have been directed to take necessary steps to avoid any law and order disruption.”
Additional force has been deployed at all crucial areas. Besides, senior officials are monitoring the situation from the state secretariat. Normal services have been promised for Metro, Suburban and long-distance trains.
West Bengal: Latest visuals from Kolkata's Esplanade. BJP has called for a 12-hour statewide bandh today in protest against the death of a student who died following a clash with police in North Dinajpur's Islampur. pic.twitter.com/dnl68hjUGl
— ANI (@ANI)There will be 2,600 government buses, 450 more than the usual daily count of 2,150. The government has assured private operators that in case of any damage to their vehicles, the administration will ensure that the insurance claims are settled. Transport department officials in the districts have been asked to monitor the situation through the control room from 4 am, sources said. For emergencies, one can call helplines: 100 (emergency helpline) and 2214 3230 (Lal Bazar control room).
বিবেকের ডাকে নিজের চেতনা জাগ্রত করে বন্ধ সফল করুন pic.twitter.com/m20eLJ7qJz
— BJP Bengal (@BJP4Bengal)Reacting to the bandh, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday had blamed RSS and BJP for the incident. “There will be no bandh. I will ask my officials to ensure there is no shutdown,” she said.
She added that the state government had provided the school with the Urdu teacher because there was a requisition from the school authority. “It’s not the decision of the government but the decision of the school committee or the school governing body.
She also alleged that the BJP was trying to create a communal disturbance. “The BJP and the RSS are responsible for the deaths in Islampur. If there is no problem when a Sanskrit or English teacher is appointed, then what is the problem over an Urdu teacher? They only think on communal lines.
Reacting to chief minister’s claim, BJP leader Pratap Banerjee said the people of Islampur and the entire state are “fed up with the misrule of Trinamool in Bengal” and the shutdown will be “an expression of people’s anger against the anti-people government”.
The family members of, who died of bullet injuries in Islampur, have refused to perform the last rites of the deceased until a CBI probe is initiated.
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