Sporadic violence during BJP-called Bengal shutdown
Kolkata, Sep 26 : Sporadic incidents of violence and vandalism were reported from some West Bengal districts on Wednesday during the BJP sponsored 12-hour shut down in the state. Normal life though remained largely unaffected in the capital city and adjoining suburbs.
Most of the impact of the shutdown was felt in parts of North Dinajpur district where two youths were allegedly killed during a clash last week between agitating students and the police over teacher recruitment at a state-run school.
Condemning the incident the Bharatiya Janata Party had called for Wednesday's shutdown and demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the matter.
The BJP supporters created road blockades in several areas in the district by felling tree trunks and burning tyres in the Islampur area. A number of state-run buses were vandalised and set on fire.
Women and youths, armed with bamboo sticks and iron rods, were seen obstructing the traffic on the roads.
Clashes between the ruling Trinamool Congress and BJP supporters took place in Cooch Behar and Nadia districts. The police resorted to baton charge and used tear gas shells to disperse the mob.
Train services were partially disrupted in both Sealdah and Howrah division of the Eastern Railway.
Titagarh, Aranghata (Ranaghat Gede section), Krishnanagar, Barasat, Pyradanga (Kalyani Ranaghat section) and Bhabla (Barasat Bangaon) routes in the Sealdah division were obstructed.
In the Howrah division, agitators obstructed train movement at Bansberia (Bandel Katwa section) and at Baidyabati (Howrah Bandel section).
A number of state-run buses were vandalised in Howrah and Cooch Behar districts.
In Kolkata, though, people hit the streets in the morning and many public and private buses, taxis, autos were seen playing normally on the roads. Most shops remained closed.
The state BJP leadership said people were spontaneously supporting the shutdown.
"While buses are available, most of them are running empty. I got into a number of buses since morning and requested the commuters to support our cause.
"None of the buses remain this empty during office hours on a general day. This shows people are spontaneously supporting the shutdown," state BJP leader Roopa Ganguly said.
"We will not resort to any form of violence. We know Trinamool is always prepared to attack us. But we are holding the shutdown in a peaceful manner," she claimed.
State Minister and Trinamool Congress' Secretary General Partha Chatterjee had said that the government would take all measures to maintain public utility services.
State BJP President Dilip Ghosh has said there would be repercussions if the ruling Trinamool deploys hooligans or uses the administration to foil the movement.
The state government has issued a circular stating its offices would remain open on Wednesday and no leave would be granted. It also urged banks, educational institutions including schools and colleges to remain open.
Additional police personnel have been deployed throughout the state to prevent any disruption or violence in connection with the shutdown.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
