West Bengal experienced significant disruptions on Wednesday due to a 12-hour general strike orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
BJP supporters demonstrated against the recent police crackdown on protestors, severely affecting normal life across various regions of the state from 6 AM to 6 PM.
The strike responded to police actions during the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally, which protested the horrific rape and murder of a female doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata earlier this month.
The BJP’s action aimed to spotlight what it calls a failure of the state government in addressing violence against women.
Suburban train services, particularly in the Howrah and Sealdah divisions, faced severe interruptions as BJP supporters staged blockades on railway tracks.
Various disruptions stranded numerous local trains for extended periods.
The day saw numerous confrontations between BJP activists and police, with incidents of supporters blocking tracks and police struggling to remove them.
Several districts, including South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Murshidabad, Nadia, and North 24 Parganas, reported rail blockades.
In addition to the train disruptions, clashes erupted between BJP and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters in several areas.
In Konangar (Hooghly district) and Asansol (West Burdwan district), scuffles were reported as TMC members took to the streets to oppose the strike.
Meanwhile, in Cooch Behar district, there were also reports of damage to public vehicles.
The state government has pledged to compensate affected merchants and businesses for any losses incurred during the strike.
Notably, the strike coincided with the foundation day of the TMC’s student wing, Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), and a key meeting of the state cabinet, adding to the day’s political tensions.
Also Read: Mamata Dedicates TMCP Day To Memory Of Doctor Murdered At RG Kar Hospital
