• Source:JND
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Bangla Bandh Latest News: West Bengal BJP leader Priyangu Pandey on Wednesday was attacked by unidentified assailants who shot at his car in the Bhatpara area of North 24 Paraganas. Two people were injured in the attack and were taken to the Bhatpara State General Hospital for treatment. However, the police claimed that the two men were beaten up by some people outside the Anglo-India Jute Mill. This came amid the massive face-off between BJP leaders and police personnel in Kolkata over the saffron party's call for a 12-hour bandh (strike) in the state over the police action on student protesters who were protesting against the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

BJP's Priyangu Pandey alleged that while he was on his way to another BJP leader Arjun Singh's residence today, the road was suddenly blocked by a jetting machine from Bhatpara Municipality. "The moment our car stopped, around 50-60 people targeted the vehicle. 7 to 8 bombs were thrown at my vehicle and then 6-7 round firing was done," he said. The ruling party, however, has rejected the allegations.

"This incident was a joint conspiracy orchestrated by the TMC and the police, with the clear intention of murdering me. The police played a role in this, providing information to the attackers," Pandey claimed. "My security was withdrawn just before this incident, further indicating the planned nature of the attack," he alleged.

Former BJP MP Arjun Singh said, "Priyangu Pandey, our party leader, was attacked today while traveling in his car. During the attack, seven rounds were fired, resulting in the driver being shot. This incident occurred in the presence of the ACP. It appears that there was a planned attempt to assassinate Priyangu Pandey. Unfortunately, two people were injured in the attack, with one of them in serious condition. We believe that the TMC, having run out of issues, resorted to such desperate measures."

Bomb Recovered Near Attack Site:

Meanwhile, the West Bengal police have also recovered empty bomb shells from near the spot where BJP leader Priyangu Pandey was attacked. An investigation has been initiated in the matter and further probe is underway to identify the accused behind the incident.

BJP's Bangla Bandh

Daily life was partially affected in West Bengal on Wednesday due to a 12-hour shutdown called by the BJP, protesting the police action against demonstrators during a march to the state secretariat. Rail and road blockades at several places in the state since the early morning affected public transport services, inconveniencing people.

In the state capital Kolkata, the usual weekday flurry was missing with a lesser number of buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis plying. Private vehicles were also significantly less, even as markets and shops remained open as usual. Schools and colleges were open, though the number of students was lesser. In many private offices, attendance was low with employees asked to work from home. However, attendance was as usual in government offices.

BJP workers demonstrated at several places in the city, including Sealdah, Shyambazar, Burrabazar and Wipro More in the IT hub of Sector 5, and police were swift in removing them to clear the roads for traffic. An official of the Eastern Railway said bandh supporters blocked tracks at 49 places under its jurisdiction in the state.

In Malda, activists of the TMC and BJP engaged in a brawl over the blocking of a road. Police intervened to disperse the two groups. In Alipurduar, BJP activists engaged in a scuffle with the police as they tried to block an arterial road, shouting slogans such as 'dafa ek dabi ek, mukhyomantrir padatyag' (one-point demand, chief minister's resignation).