Bengal Bandh: 64 Arrested, Leaders Detained; IMA Suspends RG Kar Hospital Principal's Membership

In case you missed developments about the Bengal Bandh today, Outlook brings you top developments on today's story:

• IMA Suspends RG Kar Hospital Principal Sandeep Ghosh's Membership

• Junior Docs In Bengal Reject CM Mamata’s Appeal To End Cease Work

• President Murmu 'Horrified' Over Incident, Issues Statement

• BJP Leader Accuses CM Mamata Of 'Threatening' Doctors

• CM Mamata Says 'Will Amend Existing Laws To Ensure Death Penalty To Rapists'

• 'Enough Is Enough', Says President Murmu

• BJP Workers Vandalise Police Barricades At MG Road

• TMC, BJP Workers Clash In Munshi Bazaar

• BJP's Call For 12-Hr General Strike

Hello, readers! Welcome to Outlook India's live coverage of the strike called in West Bengal by the Bharatiya Janata Party. We will bring you real-time updates on the events in the state today, while also telling what's open and what's closed.

Follow our live blog for regular updates on Bengal Bandh and the Kolkata Doctor Case probe.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday called for a 12-hour general strike -- 6 am to 6 pm -- 'Bengal Bandh' today (August 28, Wednesday) to condemn the police action against protesters that took place during the protest march to the secretariat -- 'Nabanna Abhijan'.

The party strongly condemned the violence and called for the resignation of Chief Minister "dictator" Mamata Banerjee for the facilitation of a fair probe into the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. They also demanded that the CBI conduct her polygraph test.

As the BJP called for a general strike in the state, the West Bengal government urged people to not respond or participate in the bandh.

Alapan Bandhopadhyay, the chief advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said, The government will not allow any bandh on Wednesday. We urge people not to participate in it. All steps shall be taken to ensure that normal life is unaffected."

Shortly after, the state issued a notice saying that all government offices would remain open and all employees, except those facing exigencies or are on leave, would have to report for duty on August 28 or face show-cause for their unauthorised absence.

As per the announcement made for the strike by the BJP, the party has appealed for all shops, schools, and offices to remain closed as a sign of protest and has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Let's look at what services will be open and closed:

• What's Open: Essential services like hospitals, pharmacy, public transport, are expected to function normally. Government offices and banks are also likely to remain open unless a holiday is declared by the respective concerned authorities.

• What's Closed: Schools and college are likely to be closed for the day as a measure towards students' safety. However, no such decision from any educational institutions have been released.

BJP leader Agnimitra Paul reviewed the 12-hour general strike situation in the state. The party called for 'Bangla Bandh' to protest the police action against the protesters during Tuesday's 'Nabanna Abhijan' march.

BJP leader Agnimitra Paul said, "They are going around with a disgusting attitude. They have all become spineless. Police have invalidated the orders of the Supreme Court... They used water canons mixed with chemicals on the protestors... They are unable to provide safety to women of the state and when women protest, they use force to disperse them. We will continue to protest."

Bus services in West Bengal have taken a hit amid the 12-hour strike called by the BJP today. The strike has been called to protest the police action against protesters during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' march yesterday.

Visuals From Paschim Medinipur:

BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan said, "The BJP in West Bengal has announced a Bengal Bandh today, protesting against the atrocities committed against the agitators. There is a tidal wave of justice rising in West Bengal. I think the West Bengal Chief Minister and the Kolkata Commissioner should resign."

"The brutal mayhem unleashed by the merciless Mamata Sarkar is not just vicious and vindictive, it is inhumane. The ruthless TMC government yesterday attempted to cold-bloodedly crush and choke our youth and students who are crusading for justice," he added.

He said, "We saw how the police unleashed water cannons, fired tear gas and used hockey sticks to beat students in railway stations. Not only that, the women and senior citizens were not even spared and manhandled by the Kolkata police."

Government bus drivers in Howrah were seen hearing Helmets on Wednesday as the BJP called for a 12-hour general strike in the state.

"We are wearing helmets for safety," a bus driver told reporters.

Kolkata police detained protesting BJP workers at Alipurduar. This came amid the 12-hour general strike called by the party to protest police action against protesters during the Nabanna Abhijan march yesterday.

TMC party workers are protesting against BJP's 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh' call today.

"They want to make poor people suffer. They have come to West Bengal to do dacoity. Common and poor people are with Mamata Banerjee. West Bengal can't be stopped by doing such things," said TMC leader Narayan Ghosh.

BJP MLA Ashok Kirtania told news agency ANI, "Bandh is going on...Police were not able to do anything, therefore, the workers of TMC are here, Mamata sent them...We will not move from here, we will continue the fight."

Security has been beefed up in Kolkata amid BJP's call for a 12-hour general strike in the state.

The strike has been called by the party to protest the police action against protesters during yesterday's 'Nabanna Abhijan' protest march.

A brief recap: The Bharatiya Janata Party has called for a 12-hour general strike in West Bengal to protest the police action against protesters during yesterday's 'Nabanna Abhijan'.

"Police personnel are deployed everywhere to maintain Law and Order in the state," said Dendup Sherpa, Additional SP.

Visuals from Uttar Dinajpur showed shops being shut and reduced vehicular movement on the roads.

In Malda, activists of the TMC and BJP engaged in a brawl over the blocking of a road. Police swung into action to disperse the warring groups.

Notably, security arrangements across West Bengal have been tightened in view of the general strike called by the BJP.

BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari told news agency PTI, "The Bandh called in Bengal by BJP represents the call of the people of Bengal. The people are tired of tyrant Mamata Banerjee and they are tired of seeing this fascist leader using the might of entire administration to quell and stop the protest."

"People have lost faith in Mamata Banerjee and they believe the administration cannot provide justice to the RG Kar rape and murder victim. People are supporting our protest immensely and Mamata Banerjee is using her brute force to stop it. The call of protest is not just by BJP but by the people. Mamata Banerjee should resign in the interest of people," Bhandari added.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday issued an apology over the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

In a post on microblogging site X, Mamata said that she dedicates Trinamool Chhatra Parishad Foundation to "our sister", whose tragic loss was mourned by everyone.

In Bengali, she further wrote, "And please, our heartfelt condolences to the family of the sister who was brutally tortured to death and seeking speedy justice, as well as to all the women of all ages across India who have been subjected to such inhumane acts. Sorry."

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BJP West Bengal president Sukanta Majumdar wrote to Governor CV Ananda Bose and said, "...With due respect, I am writing to draw your attention to the recent incidents of excessive use of force by the police against peaceful student activists during Nabanna Avijaan protest, organized by Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj. An unspecified number of students have been detained in in Howrah, Kolkata, and other areas across West Bengal."

"The actions of the police in this instance appear to be disproportionate and unprovoked, undermining the democratic values that we, as a nation, uphold. In light of these grave concerns, I earnestly request you to take immediate and necessary steps to address these instances of police excesses. Additionally, I urge you to instruct the state police to release all the student activists currently in custody unconditionally, as their detention violates their democratic rights," he wrote in his letter.

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, "We all want justice in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case. Mamata Banerjee also wants justice...the case is now in CBI's hands...One accused has been arrested...now the CBI is investigating the matter."

"They (BJP) are trying to create anarchy here, yesterday they attacked the police and today they have called this bandh...Everything is normal in Bengal...The people of West Bengal have rejected BJP's bandh," Ghosh added.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari joined the BJP's protest, the call for 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh'.

The strike has been called to protest police action against the protesters during yesterday's 'Nabanna Abhijan'.

BJP leader Priyangu Pandey has claimed that people belonging to TMC attacked and fired on his car earlier this morning in Bhatpara area of North 24 Parganas.

"Today I was going to our leader Arjun Singh's residence...We moved some distance and the road was blocked by a jetting machine from Bhatpara Municipality. The moment our car stopped, around 50-60 people targeted the vehicle," Pandey told reporters.

"7 to 8 bombs were thrown at my vehicle and then 6-7 round firing was done...This is a joint conspiracy of TMC and the Police...They planned my murder...The police supported and gave information...My security was withdrawn and then this incident happened," he added.

BJP leader Rupa Ganguly at Kolkata's Gariahat urged commuters to follow the party's 12-hour 'Bengal bandh' call today.

Police have recovered emply bomb shells from near the spot where BJP leader Priyangu Pandey was attacked in Bhatpara of North 24 Parganas.

Pandey had earlier claimed that 7-8 bombs were thrown at his vehicle.

Police detained protesting BJP leader Locket Chatterjee from Kolkata's Bata Chowk area.

Two people have been injured in the attack and firing incident on BJP leader Priyangu Pandey's car earlier today in Bhatpara of North 24 Parganas.

BJP leader Rupa Ganguly said, "People from TMC are saying that people are not following the bandh while buses are going empty. It means that people are following the bandh call. Did you see me forcing anyone to follow the bandh? Police are behaving so badly these days, don't they feel ashamed?"

Amid the BJP's 12-hour general strike in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress clashed with the BJP party workers in the Munshi Bazaar area.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar joined the protests and told reporters, "Kolkata HC has given us the permission for seven-day Dharna. We will start it from tomorrow...We welcome their verdict...There is no democracy here, police cannot stop firing but only stop BJP's protest. The police can arrest BJP leaders but not the accused."

As BJP's Bengal Bandh call continues in the state, junior doctor's union is holding a protest rally, demanding justice for the postgraduate trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Amid the 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh' called by BJP today, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said her party and government has dedicated this day to the RG Kar Medical College doctor who was allegedly raped and murder inside the hospital.

"We want justice but BJP today called for a bandh. They don't want justice, they are only trying to defame Bengal," Mamata Banerjee said.

On RG Kar woman doctor rape-murder, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said, "For this, there is only one punishment- to hang till death."

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said said she doesn't support the bandh called by the BJP and lauded the police for handling the situation well during the Nabanna Abhijan rally on Tuesday. "We don't support this bandh....BJP never demanded the resignations of the CMs of UP, MP and even Manipur...We saw pictures from yesterday [Nabanna Abhiyan rally], I salute the police for handling the situation well," Mamata Banerjee said.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that next week she would call an Assembly session and pass a Bill within 10 days to "ensure capital punishment for rapists".

"We will send this Bill to the Governor. If he doesn't pass, we will sit outside Raj Bhavan. This Bill must be passed and he cannot evade accountability this time," she added.

Noting that 16 days have passed since CBI took over the Kolkata rape case probe, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee asked, "Where is justice?"

She also urged the protesting doctors to join work, asserting that the state government will not take any action against them.

Calcutta High Court has dismissed plea against "Bangla Bandh" called by the BJP as petitioner barred from filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

Amid BJP's 12-hour Bengal Bandh, party workers were seen vandalising police barricades at MG Road.

News agency ANI reported citing sources that the polygraph test of ASI Anup Dutta has started at the CBI office in Kolkata, in connection with the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front is taking out a protest march from Shyambazar to Dharamtala, demanding justice for the trainee doctor who raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

President Droupadi Murmu, made her first comments on the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar And Medical College, and said that she is dismayed and horrified.

"Enough is enough," she said, adding that, "Even as students, doctors and citizens were protesting in Kolkata, criminals remained on prowl elsewhere."

"No civilised society can allow daughters and sisters to be subjected to such atrocities," the President said in her article for news agency PTI.

President Droupadi Mumru said that society needs "honest and unbiased self-introspection" and ask itself some difficult questions.

"Very often a ‘deplorable mindset’ sees the female as a lesser human being, less powerful, less capable, less intelligent," Murmu said.

President Droupadi Murmu said that 12 years since Nirbhaya and countless rapes have been forgotten by the society, adding that "this collective amnesia is obnoxious".

"Societies are scared to face history, resorting to collective amnesia. It is now time for India to face history squarely," she added.

Asserting that her government has zero tolerance to incidents of rape, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said an amendment to existing laws will be passed in the state assembly next week to ensure capital punishment to convicted rapists.

Banerjee said that she would sit for dharna outside Raj Bhavan here if the governor delays in giving assent to the amended bill or forwards it to the President for ratification.

The chief minister also said that the TMC will launch a movement from Saturday at the state’s grassroots to create pressure on the Centre to pass legislation for capital punishment of convicted rapists.

"We will pass the amended bill in a special session of the assembly next week. We will then send it to the governor for his nod. We will stage dharna outside Raj Bhavan if he sits on the bill,” she thundered from the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad foundation day rally Kolkata.

Banerjee also urged the agitating junior doctors of Bengal, who have struck work for 20 days now to urgently consider returning to duty. PTI

The CBI on Wednesday began the process of conducting a polygraph test on Kolkata Police ASI Anup Dutta to decipher his alleged links with Sanjay Roy, arrested in the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, officials said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had taken permission from a Kolkata court to conduct the polygraph test on Assistant Sub-Inspector Dutta, who was earlier questioned by the agency in the case.

Dutta will be the eighth person to undergo a polygraph test in this case.

According to the officials, Dutta, posted in the Kolkata Police Welfare Committee, had allegedly extended a number of favours to Roy, a traffic police volunteer.

The CBI is trying to find out if Roy informed Dutta about the crime he allegedly committed and whether he sought any favours for covering up the crime, the officials said. PTI

Amid the BJP’s 12-hour ‘Bengal Bandh,’ the party’s Jalpaiguri MP Jayanta Kumar Roy’s car was allegedly gheraoed by the TMC workers in Siliguri.

A stone was also reportedly pelted at the Jalpaiguri Lok Sabha MP’s car, who left the spot after a while. Police personnel were also present at the spot. ANI

BJP workers on Wednesday clashed with the police at several places across West Bengal as they tried to enforce a 12-hour shutdown, which had a mixed impact in the state, reports said.

Several BJP leaders, including former MPs Roopa Ganguly and Locket Chatterjee, Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya and MLA Agnimitra Paul, were detained for blocking roads since the morning, they mentioned.

The Centre has asked States to implement night patrolling on hospital premises and regulating access for people in key areas among the measures to ensure the safety of medics at workplaces, following Supreme Court orders in the rape-murder case.

On the protest over RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi says, "...After the attempt to mislead the probe, save accused and destroy evidence, now a new strategy to threaten Doctors can be seen...CM did a PC and said 'I don't want FIRs to be registered and their (Doctors) careers get destroyed and they face trouble in getting passports and Visas'...BJP wants to say clearly that Mamata Banerjee has straight away threatened Doctors..."

On Kolkata rape and murder case, President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday in a statement said, "The gruesome incident of rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata has left the nation shocked. I was dismayed and horrified when I came to hear of it. What is more depressing is the fact that it was not the only incident of its kind; it is part of a series of crimes against women. Even as students, doctors and citizens were protesting in Kolkata, criminals remained on the prowl elsewhere. The victims include even kindergarten girls. No civilised society can allow daughters and sisters to be subjected to such atrocities. The nation is bound to be outraged, and so am I. We owe it to our daughters to remove the hurdles from their path of winning the freedom from fear. Then we can collectively give a firm answer to the innocent query of those children in the next Raksha Bandhan. Let us collectively say enough is enough."

Indian Medical Association(IMA) on Wednesday suspended the membership of former RG Kar Hospital principal Sandeep Ghosh.

The agitating junior doctors in West Bengal, who have been continuing cease work for 20 days to protest against the rape and murder incident rejected Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s appeal to join duty.

A member of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum said they would not withdraw the agitation unless their demands, such as justice for the deceased postgraduate trainee, were met.

They also demanded the suspension of Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, from the health services and the same action against the Kolkata police commissioner.

The doctor’s forum took out a rally in Shyambazar area in the northern part of Kolkata to press their demands.

“We are glad to know that the chief minister is supporting our cause. We want to return to work but that is not possible now as our demands are yet to be met,” the forum member said. PTI

Asserting that her government has zero tolerance to incidents of rape, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said an amendment to existing laws will be passed in the state assembly next week to ensure capital punishment to convicted rapists.

Banerjee said that she would sit for dharna outside Raj Bhavan here if the governor delays in giving assent to the amended bill or forwards it to the President for ratification.

“We will pass the amended bill in a special session of the assembly next week. We will then send it to the governor for his nod. We will stage dharna outside Raj Bhavan if he sits on the bill,” she thundered from the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad foundation day rally here.

“Today 64 people have been arrested during the bandh. Some leaders have also been detained and further action will be taken as per their involvement,” said Meeraj Khalid, Joint Commissioner of Police (HQ), Kolkata Police during a press conference.

Commenting on President Droupadi Murmu's today's reaction to RG Kar incident, TMC's Kunal Ghosh said, "The President has said that she is worried. Similarly, we are also worried, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee are also worried. We also want justice. This is a social crime, but the Kolkata Police had arrested the accused within 24 hours. Now, the case is being looked by the CBI. Is the President giving statements because the incident happened in West Bengal?"

West Bengal BJP has accused CM Mamata Banerjee of "endorsing" revenge politics.

West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar in a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah has sought "prompt and decisive action to safeguard the interests of the citizens of West Bengal".

In his letter, Majumdar has accused Banerjee of "shamelessly incited gathering" and made "anit-national" remarks.