Bangla Bandh today live updates: BJP leader Locket Chatterjee detained at Kolkata's Bata Chowk

In the aftermath of the violence during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' rally in Kolkata, Union Minister and BJP President JP Nadda has launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of "surpassing all boundaries of cruelty and dictatorship" in the state. The BJP leader on Tuesday condemned the violence and repression inflicted upon the doctors, youth, and women of West Bengal by the Mamata Banerjee government and her police force, calling their actions as not only deplorable but also a disgrace to humanity.

In response to the situation, the BJP President said that the BJP has called for a 12-hour Bengal bandh starting from 6 am on Wednesday.

BJP President Nadda highlighted Mamata Banerjee's silence over the brutal rape case in West Bengal, where the dignity of a woman was shattered, and the victim's parents were misled.

He criticised the Chief Minister for remaining silent and resorting to extreme measures of cruelty to protect the perpetrators when the youth of the country raise their voice against the injustice through the 'Nabanna Abhiyaan'.

"The government deployed a massive police force of more than 6,000 personnel, sealed the Howrah Bridge, and unleashed lathi-charges and water cannons on the protesting students on the streets of Bengal."

"Despite being a woman Chief Minister, Mamata ji has completely failed to ensure the safety of the women of Bengal," BJP President Nadda said on Tuesday.

He expressed confidence that the people of Bengal will stand united with the party and spare no effort in shattering Mamata Banerjee's pride and creating an environment to overthrow such an oppressive government.

On Tuesday, BJP President Nadda criticised the excessive use of force by the Kolkata police against protesters who were demonstrating against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor.

He accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of prioritising the protection of rapists and criminals over the safety of women in West Bengal.

His remarks came in response to the police's use of lathi-charges, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse protesters who were throwing stones and bricks at security forces and attempting to breach barricades blocking their path to the state secretariat.

The father of the deceased of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case said that he is standing in support of the students who are protesting for his daughter.

"I am standing in support of the students who are protesting for my daughter. I am very proud that the students have taken such a risk and are out today for my daughter. They should intensify their protest and should keep demanding justice," he added.

On Tuesday, a protest march to West Bengal Secretariat 'Nabanna' was organised by the 'Paschim Banga Chatra Samaj' and other organisations, which aimed to protest the recent rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor in Kolkata.

The rally termed "Nabanna Abhijan" started from the College Square in the capital of West Bengal, amid heightened security around the West Bengal state secretariat with protestors gathering at the Santragachi area in Howrah.

Following the chaos, the Trinamool Congress listed "BJP's idea of a 'peaceful protest'," in a social media post in X, which includes stone pelting, pushing barricades, severely injuring the police, orchestrating extreme chaos and disrupting the law and order of the state.

TMC also said that the "Nabanna Abhijan" was a conspiracy by the BJP and was "nothing short of a FATAL ATTACK on Bengal!"

All these came following the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital premises, which sparked nationwide outrage and since then several protests have been staged demanding justice for the victim. The trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall on August 9.

With agency inputs

Here are the live updates:

1 pm:
 

BJP leader Locket Chatterjee was detained by police while participating in a protest at Kolkata's Bata Chowk. Chatterjee said, "Nothing will change; the more they detain, the more people will join the protest. This reflects public anger. The police can detain people but cannot stifle the idea behind the protest."

12: 10 pm:

People of West Bengal have rejected BJP's bandh, says Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh

Reacting to Bharatiya Janata Party's call for a 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh' on Wednesday, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh said that the people of West Bengal have rejected the "drama of anarchy."
A 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh' has been called by the BJP to protest against the state government after the police used lathi charge and tear gas on protestors yesterday during the 'Nabanna Abhiyan' protest rally in Kolkata yesterday.

12 pm:

Violence erupts in some areas, BJP claims firing on activists

Tension is aggravating in different pockets of West Bengal over the 12-hour general strike called by the BJP on Wednesday as incidents of firing were being reported. In Bhatpara of North 24 Parganas district, firing took place, following which a local BJP supporter Rabi Singh, received bullet injuries and had to be hospitalised. Former Lok Sabha member from Barrackpore and BJP leader Arjun Singh claimed that the injured supporter along with some of his associates were stopped on the road by the Trinamool Congress activists and were fired upon.

10 am:

Public life remains normal  amid partial shutdown in Kolkata

In Kolkata, public life continues to function normally despite a partial shutdown in certain areas of the district. The overall impact of the closure has been relatively limited.

8:10 am:

Police detain protesting BJP workers at Alipurduar

12-hour 'Bengal Bandh' has been called by the BJP to protest against the state government after the police used lathicharge and tear gas on protestors during Nabanna Abhiyan, yesterday

8 am:

Bhagirath Express stopped in Murshidabad

Protesters stepped onto railway tracks at Barrackpur railway station and due to this, Bhagirath Express stopped for almost one and a half hours in Murshidabad.