West Bengal: A 12-hour bandh was announced in North Bengal on Friday by the BJP because of the protest against atrocities against a tribal community. The incident took place a week after a teenage girl’s death at Kaliaganj in Uttar Dinajpur district.
North Bengal includes the districts of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda.
The ruling Trinamool Congress has reacted angrily to the bandh demand, accusing the BJP of attempting to disrupt the state’s tranquillity. The party has also accused the BJP of attempting to politicise and communalize the teen’s death, dubbed “vulture politics.”
#WATCH | Police detained BJP workers protesting against the alleged murder of a BJP leader and Kaliyaganj rape & murder case, in North Dinajpur, West Bengal pic.twitter.com/ipw4tdwfME
---Advertisement---— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2023
Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court has requested an update on the inquiry. The police have been ordered by the court to produce the postmortem report, case diary, and FIR by May 2. The court also ordered the police to provide the family and the NCPCR with a copy of the FIR and postmortem report. The family members have gone to court to request an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
West Bengal | We have called for a bandh after seeing the condition here. This incident (the alleged murder of a BJP leader) was very shameful. Constant attacks are done on the Rajbangshi people which shows that TMC is against Rajbangshi: BJP leader Debasree Choudhury pic.twitter.com/USMrdpj3iz
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2023
BJP MP Debasree Choudhury said, “One of our members protesting over the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Uttar Dinajpur’s Kaliaganj was shot dead by police.”
She added, “BJP workers are continuously being arrested after the Ram Navami violence. Till now, more than 150 workers have been arrested. We would like to tell Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that due to her failures, the Kaliaganj incident took place and now she must take responsibility for it.”
