BJP Leader Priyangu Pandey’s Car Attacked in West Bengal During ‘Bengal Bandh’

North 24 Parganas (West Bengal), August 28: During the BJP’s 12-hour ‘Bengal Bandh’, party leader Priyangu Pandey claimed that people from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) attacked and fired on his car in the Bharpara area of North 24 Parganas district. He alleged that bombs were thrown at his car and 6-7 rounds of firing occurred.

Pandey stated, “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. 7 to 8 bombs were thrown at my vehicle and then 6-7 rounds of firing were 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 My security was withdrawn and then this incident happened.”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 also mentioned that his driver had been shot at and that two people were severely injured among the other seven.

Former BJP MP Arjun Singh commented on the incident, saying, “When the leaders of our party were coming, the road was blocked using a jetting machine and a bomb was thrown. Seven rounds of firing took place and all this was done in the presence of the ACP. There was a plan to kill Priyangu Pandey. Today the situation is such that those who threw the bomb play gambling outside the ACP office.”

The West Bengal police detained protesting BJP party workers at Kolkata’s Bata Chowk. Earlier, Trinamool Congress party workers staged a protest against BJP’s 12-hour ‘Bengal Bandh’ call, which was in response to a police crackdown on a peaceful protest during the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ march.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of trying to create anarchy in Bengal, stating, “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.”

On Tuesday, the ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ rally started from College Square in Kolkata, amid heightened security around the West Bengal state secretariat. Protestors gathered at the Santragachi area in Howrah, where police used water cannons, lathi-charge, and tear gas to disperse them as they clashed with police personnel and broke barricades.