BJP Calls For 12-Hour Bandh in WB Tomorrow Over Basirhat Violence
The Quint The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, 9 June, called for a 12-hour 'bandh' in Basirhat and the rest of the West Bengal on Monday, said party leader Rahul Sinha.
He said the party will observe a 'black day' in the state, reported ANI.
On Sunday, security forces in West Bengal had stopped BJP leaders in Basirhat as they were taking the mortal remains of deceased party workers to the party office.
Sinha said, "BJP will move court over the police’s role. Remains of the deceased are being taken to their native places for funeral."
BJP MP from Hooghly Locket Chatterjee, meanwhile, told ANI: "Families of the deceased want to take the remains to party office but Mamata's police are stopping us saying that last rites will be held in village."
The BJP had claimed on Saturday that the Trinamool Congress had shot dead four of its party workers in Sandeshkhali, Basirhat, over the removing of party flags from public places in the Hatgacha panchayat area.
“TMC goons attacked BJP workers, and four of our workers were shot dead in Sandeshkhali, Basirhat. Their leader and CM (Mamata Banerjee) is indulging in a reign of terror. We have sent a message to Home Minister Amit Shahji, Kailash Vijayvargiyaji, and our state leaders,” BJP leader Mukul Roy to ANI.
The clashes broke out at Nayjat, some 70 kilometres from Kolkata in the Sandeshkhali area.
Clashes Break Out at Victory Rally
Earlier in the day, clashes broke out between BJP workers and police in Gangarampur, South Dinajpur. One police sub-inspector and some BJP supporters were injured in the clash and have been admitted to a nearby hospital, reported ANI.
Police have registered suo motu cases against the BJP's North Dinajpur district leadership for taking out victory rallies in violation of the state government order banning them.
Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had explicitly said that no victory rallies will be carried out across the state.
Police Officials Stop Ghosh’s Victory Rally
The incident took place after police officials allegedly stopped a victory rally conducted by BJP MP and state unit party president Dilip Ghosh, who won from the Medinipur parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha polls.
According to Hindustan Times, Sub-inspector Ribhu Bhattacharya sustained a head injury, while a woman civic volunteer suffered a broken leg. Both were taken to Gangarampur hospital.
As tensions rose, Ghosh was taken to a safe place by BJP workers and more police were deployed to tackle the situation.
A baton charge by the police left several BJP workers injured. Police also lobbed teargas shells to disperse the crowd, reported Hindustan Times.
In a video shared by BJP MP Dilip Ghosh, BJP workers could be seen protesting against police meddling and intrusion at Gangarampur. Hindustan Times reported that BJP workers showered brickbats on the police force, chased the men in uniform with sticks and also damaged a number of police vehicles.
West Bengal Government Being Autocratic: Dilip Ghosh
Reacting to the incident, Ghosh said,"We are carrying out 'Nagrik Abhinandan Yatra' everywhere. They have voted for us and it is our responsibility to thank them. The police is not letting us carry out 'Yatras' anywhere. They have imposed Section 144. They are stopping us which is why the clash broke out."
Ghosh blamed the state government for the incident.
“TMC workers are taking this opportunity to attack us. Our workers and police officials sustained injuries. This incident took place due to autocratic behaviour of state government,” Ghosh said told ANI.
On Friday, in a series of tweets, Ghosh took to Twitter to criticise this move.
