CPM criticized the Bengal government for its crackdown on student activists.
Calcutta:
Left-wing parties in West Bengal have called for a 12-hour bandh across the state on Friday to protest the police crackdown on students and youth marching towards Nabanna, the state secretariat, on Thursday.
While the processions converged from various points through Kolkata and Howrah, the repression was most severe at Dorina Crossing, in the heart of Kolkata, at the junction of Chowringhee and SN Banerjee road. Several protesters, including women, were injured when the police used batons on them.
The West Bengal government has opposed the so-called bandh and issued a notice saying that all employees must attend the office. A casual license will not be issued and disruption of traffic will not be accepted as an excuse. The absence will mean loss of salary.
Police claimed that the protesters attempted to storm barricades and did not back down despite the warnings, forcing them to fire tear gas, water cannons and use batons. Protesters say the use of force was brutal and unprecedented.
The president of the Left Front, Biman Bose, said that the police action was “similar to that of Jallianwala Bagh” when the entire city was barricaded and cornered protesters were attacked.
After the crackdown, the police rescued the wounded and took them to hospital. CPM leader Md Salim claimed that 500 protesters were injured. Police say about 20.
According to Md Salim, Congress and the Indian Secular Front, recently founded by Pirzada Abbas Siddique of Furfura Sharif, are backing the 12-hour bandh.
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