The bandh called by the West Bengal unit of the BJP failed to bring the state to a halt as it did not receive sufficient support from the Centre. The saffron party called the bandh to protest the death of two students of a local technical college in an alleged police firing at a school in Islampur in North Dinajpur district on September 20.
A special directive was issued from Delhi, asking the Central government offices in Kolkata to be functional on Wednesday. The Eastern Railway ran train services, and airlines were operative.
Kolkata port, railways, airport, Central government offices and public sector undertakings remained open. However, the attendance of employees was low.
The bandh, however, could not be called a total failure as the BJP was able to make it a success in rural areas. Kolkata, unlike rural Bengal, remained largely peaceful with shops and establishments remaining open, except in a few locations. Public and private vehicles were operational, but footfall was low.
BJP workers tried to halt trains by making blockades or throwing banana leaves on the tracks. However, trains continued to run, as did buses and taxis.
Attendance at state government offices was at 95 per cent, while Central government offices were mostly empty. Many private schools declared holiday for the benefit of those who did not own vehicles. Certain institutions remained open, but BJP workers did not try to close them down. State government offices had told employees that if they fail to turn up, they would have to face consequences. Fearing reprisal, many employees spent the night in offices.
The bandh had a huge impact in north Bengal. It was here that two youths were killed in an alleged police firing at a school during clashes over recruitment of Urdu teachers. Islampur, where the incident took place, witnessed violent clashes between the BJP and The Trinamool Congress workers. Several buses and other private vehicles were torched by the BJP workers. Several BJP workers were arrested.
In Siliguri, South and North Dinajpur, Malda, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurdooar, the BJP managed to garner support for the bandh day as most people refused to open shops or come out on the streets.
In south Bengal, especially in Midnapore, Jhargram and Purulia, BJP workers went on a rampage and forcefully shut down many establishments. In many areas, they had confrontations with TMC workers. In Jhargram, Purulia and Bankura, a few BJP offices were ransacked and a couple of them were burnt.
At Madhyagram, in North 24 Parganas, a bus belonging to Delhi Public School was attacked. Stones were pelted at the bus and students and teachers were dragged out. However, nobody was injured in the incident. The BJP, however, denied any role in this.
Several schools in Burdwan and Midnapore districts were also attacked for not closing down.
Dilip Ghosh, state president of the BJP, said his party did not plan to make the bandh violent. "Trinamool Congress gathered antisocials and attacked many places in order to defame BJP. We did not attack any school or school bus. We did not prevent anyone. But we pleaded with the people to support the bandh. And they did that. We are happy," he said.
"But yes, where Trinamool Congress rowdies or police attacked us, we gave them befitting reply," said Ghosh. He avoided commenting on the snub by the Union government.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is currently in Milan, Italy, said she would initiate tough action against those who vandalised public property. "I have already passed a law regarding this [vandalising public property] in West Bengal assembly. Now, on my return, I will implement it," said Mamata in a statement.
