BJP Leaders Locket Chatterjee and Rupa Ganguly Detained During 12-Hour Bengal Bandh Protest
On August 28, Kolkata police detained BJP leader Locket Chatterjee during a 12-hour Bengal bandh protest in West Bengal. The protest followed the Nabanna Abhijan violence. Locket Chatterjee, along with other BJP workers, was protesting at Kolkata’s Bata Chowk. She stated, “Nothing will happen, the more they detain, the more people will join the protest. This is the anger of people and they are on the road. Police can detain people but not the idea.”
Another BJP leader, Rupa Ganguly, also joined the protest, urging commuters to participate and demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP called for the bandh after Kolkata police used lathi charge, water cannons, and tear gas against protestors in the Nabanna Abhijan Rally.
Authorities have increased security in Kolkata due to the bandh. Dendup Sherpa, Additional Superintendent of Police in Uttar Dinajpur, stated, “Police personnel are deployed everywhere to maintain law and order in the state.” Anticipating violence, the administration instructed government bus drivers and conductors in Kolkata to wear helmets. Drivers of North Bengal State Transport Corporation buses were seen wearing helmets in Cooch Behar.
The ruling Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of attacking the police and trying to create chaos. TMC spokesperson 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.”
On August 27, chaos erupted in Kolkata as security personnel used tear gas, water cannons, and lathicharge to disperse protestors on the Howrah Bridge. The protest was over the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case, where a female trainee doctor was murdered and allegedly sexually assaulted on August 9, causing national outrage and numerous rallies across the country.
Doubts Revealed
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is one of the major political parties in India.
Locket Chatterjee -: Locket Chatterjee is a politician and a member of the BJP. She is also an actress.
Rupa Ganguly -: Rupa Ganguly is another politician from the BJP. She is also known for her acting career.
Bengal Bandh -: A bandh is a form of protest where people stop working and businesses close down. ‘Bengal Bandh’ means this protest happened in the state of West Bengal.
Nabanna Abhijan -: Nabanna Abhijan refers to a protest march towards Nabanna, the administrative building of the West Bengal government.
CM Mamata Banerjee -: CM stands for Chief Minister. Mamata Banerjee is the Chief Minister of West Bengal.
TMC -: TMC stands for Trinamool Congress, which is another major political party in West Bengal.
RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case -: This refers to a serious crime that happened at RG Kar Medical College, involving the rape and murder of a person.
