Mita Mukherjee
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) declared a 12-hour general strike from 6 am to 6 pm in West Bengal on Wednesday to protest police “atrocities”on agitating students participating in a march to the state administrative headquarters Nabanna on Tuesday.
The protest march, called by Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, a newly formed student body, was organised demanding resignation of chief minister Mamata Banerjee and immediate action against the culprits involved in the rape and murder of 31-year old junior doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The state government said it opposed the strike and life will remain normal tomorrow. But, soon after BJP declared the 12-hour strike, several schools decided to keep classes suspended tomorrow. Some schools said their institutions will be kept open but advised guardians to send their wards to school only after examining the situation.
“We have issued a notice to guardians. They have been advised to see the situation and make a decision on whether they would send their children to school or not,” Supriyo Dhar, secretary of two La Martiniere schools, told EducationWorld. Sujoy Biswas, principal of Rammohan Mission High School said classes will not be held tomorrow.
“No classes will be held tomorrow. We have also cancelled our Class XII practical examinations scheduled to be held tomorrow,” said Biswas
Some schools decided to switch to online teaching.
Chaotic scenes were witnessed at Howrah Bridge and various other locations in Kolkata and Howrah when protestors tried to break the police barricades trying to proceed towards the state secretariat.
Clashes broke out between the police personnel at several places as the police tried to control the situation. Police resorted to lathi charge and used water cannons at Howrah Bridge, Foreshore Road, Santragachi and Carrie Road in Howrah. Tear gas shells were lobbed to disperse the violent mob. Many protestors were seen pelting stones at the police.
The protestors alleged that the lathi charge caused injuries to several students who participated in the march. The march started at around 1 pm but the protests continued for more than three hours at various places. A group of protestors damaged some police vehicles and set a two-wheeler on fire near Babughat in Kolkata.