Editor's Pick | Protesters, police clash in Kolkata; BJP calls bandh

Violence erupted on the streets of Kolkata and Howrah on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 as protesters, during the march to Nabanna the State Secretariat, demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the rape and murder of a doctor at the R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. The situation turned volatile on the Howrah Bridge and at Howrah-Maidan where protesters tried to climb over barricades. The police had fixed guard rails to the ground with cement and in certain areas used containers to block the mob. Violence also erupted near Hastings, where the police had set up barricades preventing protesters from taking the Vidyasagar Setu, a bridge across the Hooghly river, to Nabanna. The police used water cannons to disperse the crowd and fired hundreds of tear gas shells to keep the protesters away as they tried to breach the barricades. They prevented protesters from reaching within 100 metres of the Secretariat. According to Additional Director General (South Bengal), West Bengal Police Supratim Sarkar, 25 persons were detained overnight and 126 persons, 103 men and 23 women, were arrested on Tuesday. The march was called by Paschimbango Chhatro Samaj, an apolitical students’ group. The State unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, called for a 12-hour Bengal bandh on Wednesday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., for the ‘police excesses’ on the protesters. “This bandh is to protect the people of the State from an autocratic government and restore democracy in the State,” State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said while announcing the bandh. The West Bengal government said all measures will be taken to ensure that normal life remains unaffected on Wednesday. “The government will not allow any bandh on Wednesday. We urge people not to participate in it,” said Alapan Bandopadhyay, the chief advisor to the Chief Minister. He urged all government employees to attend office, and said that shops, marketplaces and other business establishments have been asked to remain open. The Hindu’s Editorials ​Coordinated attacks: On Pakistan and the Baloch conflict ​Reasonable restrictions: On Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest and content hosting The Hindu’s Daily Quiz In which district is the famous Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple located? Dindigul Karur Ramanathapuram Erode To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 28 August 2024 [The Hindu logo] [EP Logo] Editor's Pick 28 August 2024 In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [View in browser]( [More newsletters]( Protesters, police clash in Kolkata; BJP calls bandh Violence erupted on the streets of Kolkata and Howrah on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 as protesters, during the [march to Nabanna]( the State Secretariat, demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the [rape and murder of a doctor]( at the R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. The situation turned volatile on the Howrah Bridge and at Howrah-Maidan where protesters tried to climb over barricades. The police had fixed guard rails to the ground with cement and in certain areas used containers to block the mob. Violence also erupted near Hastings, where the police had set up barricades preventing protesters from taking the Vidyasagar Setu, a bridge across the Hooghly river, to Nabanna. The police used water cannons to disperse the crowd and fired hundreds of tear gas shells to keep the protesters away as they tried to breach the barricades. They prevented protesters from reaching within 100 metres of the Secretariat. According to Additional Director General (South Bengal), West Bengal Police Supratim Sarkar, 25 persons were detained overnight and 126 persons, 103 men and 23 women, were arrested on Tuesday. The march was called by Paschimbango Chhatro Samaj, an apolitical students’ group. The State unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, called for a 12-hour Bengal bandh on Wednesday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., for the ‘police excesses’ on the protesters. “This bandh is to protect the people of the State from an autocratic government and restore democracy in the State,” State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said while announcing the bandh. The West Bengal government said all measures will be taken to ensure that normal life remains unaffected on Wednesday. “The government will not allow any bandh on Wednesday. We urge people not to participate in it,” said Alapan Bandopadhyay, the chief advisor to the Chief Minister. He urged all government employees to attend office, and said that shops, marketplaces and other business establishments have been asked to remain open. The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][​Coordinated attacks: On Pakistan and the Baloch conflictÂ]( [Arrow][​Reasonable restrictions: On Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest and content hosting]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz In which district is the famous Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple located? - Dindigul - Karur - Ramanathapuram - Erode To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here.]( Today’s Best Reads [[Kolkata Nabanna March: Protesters, police clash in Kolkata; BJP calls Bengal bandh] Kolkata Nabanna March: Protesters, police clash in Kolkata; BJP calls Bengal bandh]( [[Is the administration of lie-detector tests legally valid? | Explained] Is the administration of lie-detector tests legally valid? | Explained]( [[After Ukraine visit and call from Biden, Modi speaks to Putin] After Ukraine visit and call from Biden, Modi speaks to Putin]( [[TH27 PTI Several former members of banned Jamaat-e-Islami file nomination papers for Assembly polls] TH27 PTI Several former members of banned Jamaat-e-Islami file nomination papers for Assembly polls]( Copyright© 2024, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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