Left Calls 12-Hour Bengal Bandh To Protest Against Police Crackdown On Kolkata March

Kolkata: Left Front and associate parties has called for a 12- hour West Bengal bandh today in protest against police crackdown on students and youth marching towards Nabanna, the state secretariat, on Thursday.

On Thursday, Left and Congress activists demanding jobs clashed with the police as they tried to break barricades on their way to state secretariat Nabanna, resulting in injuries.

Condemning the attack, the Left parties have said that the 12-hour bandh will continue till 6 pm.

The West Bengal government has opposed the bandh call and issued a notice saying all employees must attend office. No casual leave will be granted and traffic disruption will not be accepted as an excuse. Absence will mean loss of pay.

“All-State Government offices, including those provided with Grants-in-aid by State Government, shall remain open and all employees shall report for duty. No casual leave for absence or any leave shall be granted to any employee nor shall there be any exemption on the ground of shift allocation,” the state government has said.

The police claimed protesters tried to storm barricades and the protesters were stopped by the state police at SN Banerjee Road who allegedly used tear gas shells and water cannons against the activists.

After the crackdown, the police rescued the injured and rushed them to hospital. A few policemen were also injured by bricks thrown by the protesters. CPM leader Md Salim claimed 500 protesters were injured.