No effect in Kolkata, sporadic clashes in other areas.
The BJP sponsored 12-hour bandh protesting the death of two youths at Islampur in North Dinajpore had had virtually no effect in Kolkata but reports of sporadic clashes between BJP and TMC supporters were reported from different parts of the state.
In Kolkata, a BJP rally was taken out from Jorabagan area. BJP supporters were seen asking shop owners to put their shutters down and warning vehicles which were plying. In Kolkata, bus drivers were seen driving with helmets on their heads.
At Bidhan Sarani area in north Kolkata, TMC supporters had taken out a rally right behind a BJP rally and as BJP supporters tried to stop plying buses they got into an altercation with TMC supporters.
Clashes between BJP and TMC supporters were reported from Mecheda in East Midnapore, Adra in Purulia and Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri district. Buses have been vandalised in Cooch Behar, Howrah and Kharagur allegedly by bandh supporters.
The state government had said they would deal strictly with any forceful attempts to shut down business houses. Bandh supporters tried to block rail at different stations, but police quickly removed agitators.
State transport department has made arrangements so that commuters are not inconvenienced. As against the normal number of 2200 buses across the state, transport department has ensured that there are 2600 state buses on road. Many buses have also been kept as standby. Trams would be about 70 in number as against 30 which ply on a normal day and similarly there would be 50 ferries instead of 30 on waterways.
About 4000 officials of Kolkata Police have been deployed at different parts of Kolkata under the leadership of 21 deputy commissioners and 70 assistant commissioners of Kolkata Police. About 50 mobile police vans have been deployed and 427 police pickets have been put up.
Roopa Ganguly who had led a rally in south Kolkata alleged that the state government was out to foil the bandh. “Buses are plying, with four to six passengers. The state government knows that its police have killed innocent children and that is why they want to show that bandh is not successful,” she said.
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