Congress, Left Parties Stage 12-Hour Shutdown in India’s West Bengal State, Blocking Trains, Roads

On Thursday, students from left-wing parties held a march against the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government demanding jobs and industrialisation in the state. Police used teargas and charged them wielding canes as some of the protesters tried to break barriers and head towards the state chief’s office. A few protesters were detained.

India's West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee was hit by a 12-hour shutdown thanks to the State’s Congress and Left parties on Friday. The parties are calling on the police crackdown on their supporters a day before to be condemned.  

The State's main opposition party BJP, however, is not supporting other parties' shutdown call.

The protesters have blocked the railway tracks in certain areas. Opposition Congress, Left Parties Stage Shutdown in India’s West Bengal Over Police Crackdown. 

North 24 Paraganas: Left party workers block train track at Kanchrapara railway station, to protest after its workers were allegedly beaten up during a march to Nabanna in Kolkata yesterday

The #LeftFront has called a 12-hour bandh in #WestBengal today. #TV9News pic.twitter.com/ieXbTF3IfZ

— tv9gujarati (@tv9gujarati) February 12, 2021

​They political parties’ workers have also blocked roads across the state capital Kolkata in the initial hours of the state-wide shutdown. 

कोलकाता: CPIM और कांग्रेस के कार्यकर्ताओं ने रोड ब्लॉक किया।

कोलकाता के नबाना में कल वाम मोर्चा कार्यकर्ताओं को रैली के दौरान कथित रूप से पीटा गया, जिसके बाद वाम मोर्चा ने पश्चिम बंगाल में आज 12 घंटे तक बंद का आह्वान किया है। #WestBengal #bangalelection pic.twitter.com/kDLl65hsnd

— The UP Khabar (@theupkhabar) February 12, 2021

Day-to-day activities in Birbhum district remain unaffected amid a 12-hour bandh call by Left Front in the state

Members of Left parties & Congress protest on roads after workers of Left were allegedly beaten up during a march

ANI#WestBengal pic.twitter.com/3MBsCPv0QV

— Jagran English (@JagranEnglish) February 12, 2021​

वाम-कांग्रेस द्वारा बंगाल बंद को सफल करने के लिए अलग-अलग तरीक़े अपनाये गये। रोड ब्लॉक किया, लोकल ट्रेन रोकी, फूल भी दिया। सरकार बंद विफल करने में लगी है...#WestBengal pic.twitter.com/c3Rkm7zxuh

— सोनू दुबे ओझा {SDO} (@sdo_ojha) February 12, 2021

Football on streets = Bandh in Bengal#fridaymorning
12 hours bandh called by #Left Parties today against police atrocities in #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/aWXZF5wDIF

— Manogya Loiwal मनोज्ञा लोईवाल (@manogyaloiwal) February 12, 2021

“We request people to support our Bandh (shutdown). Urging them to stay off the roads, and close the shops and other business establishments during the period,” Left Front Chairman Biman Bose told reporters. 

Siliguri: The Left Front has called for a 12-hour bandh in #WestBengalBandh today to protest after its workers were allegedly beaten up during a march to #Nabanna in Kolkata yesterday pic.twitter.com/0w3hv3WHLU

— TOI Kolkata (@TOIKolkata) February 12, 2021

​However, State chief Banerjee has opposed the shutdown call and directed all government employees to report for work. “Those who don’t will face stringent deductions,” a government notice stated. 

Meanwhile, around 150 protesters and 15 policemen were injured after the Left, and Congress activists were prevented from reaching the state secretariat, the state chief’s office said on Thursday. 

After the uproar between police and students, clashes at several places were reported in the city of Kolkata. 

The police said 42 protesters were arrested and another 38 have been hospitalised.