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The escalating tension in West Bengal has reached a fever pitch, with the BJP calling for a 12-hour strike in the state to protest the police action against a march towards the state secretariat, Nabanna. The march was organized to demand justice for a 31-year-old doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The police, however, met the protesters with force, employing teargas, water cannons, and batons to disperse the crowd. This forceful response has further fueled the outrage among the BJP and its supporters.
The BJP, led by state president Sukanta Majumdar, has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of turning a deaf ear to the people's demands for justice. They claim that the police action was an attack on peaceful citizens who are demanding a safe and secure environment for women in the state. The chaotic scenes that unfolded on the streets leading to Nabanna, with protesters throwing stones at the police, further highlight the volatile situation. The ruling Trinamool, however, has dismissed the protest as a BJP-backed attempt to create unrest and violence, alleging a conspiracy to destabilize the state.
The protest march, which was not authorized by the authorities, saw a large gathering of protesters, including student organizations and citizen forums, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The police, anticipating the protest, had fortified Nabanna with 6,000 personnel, barricades, and even drones to monitor the crowd. The opposition leader, Suvendu Adhikari, has raised concerns about the disappearance of four student activists who were involved in the protest, alleging that they were detained by the police. The Bengal police, however, have claimed that the students were arrested for planning large-scale violence and have been accused of conspiracy and attempted murder. The families of the missing students have filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court regarding their whereabouts.
The Trinamool has vehemently denied any involvement in the disappearance of the students and has accused the BJP and its associated student wing, ABVP, of orchestrating the protest to create chaos. They have released videos that allegedly show individuals planning to instigate violence during the protest, further fueling the accusations of a politically motivated strategy to create unrest. The protest, however, has been presented as a genuine demand for justice by several student organizations, who maintain their independence from political parties. The situation in West Bengal remains highly charged, with the BJP's strike call adding another layer of complexity to the already simmering tensions. The upcoming days are crucial in determining the future course of events and the potential ramifications for the political landscape in the state.
Source: BJP's Bengal Strike Call After Police Action On March Over Kolkata Horror