Congress calls Bengal bandh  

The streets of Kolkata turned into a battlefield on Thursday after Congress supporters here blocked roads, set ablaze vehicles and clashed with the police to protest the attack on nine Congress MLAs by CPI(M) supporters in Burdwan on Wednesday. “The police remained mute spectators when we were attacked at Mangalkot,” said Congress MLA Manas Bhuyian who was injured in the attack.

CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose denied the allegations, but said, “If any CPI(M) activist was involved in Wednesday’s incident, the party’s district committee will take action against them.”

Condemning the attack, the state Congress has called for a 12-hour Bengal bandh on Friday. Trinamool will support the bandh.