The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for a 12-hour bandh (strike) across West Bengal on Wednesday, running from 6 AM to 6 PM, in protest against the recent police action during a march to the state secretariat, 'Nabanna.' The march, which took place on Tuesday, aimed to demand justice for the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata—a case that has ignited outrage across the country.

The protest, known as 'Nabanna Abhijan,' was organized by an unregistered student group called 'Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj' and a dissident state government employees' platform, 'Sangrami Joutha Mancha.' The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) claimed that the march was politically backed by the BJP.

As the protesters attempted to reach the state secretariat, they were met with heavy police resistance. The police used lathi charges, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse the crowds, leading to clashes between the protesters and law enforcement. Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that more than 160 protesters, including 17 women, were injured in the police action. Meanwhile, the police reported that several officers were also hurt during the skirmishes.

Adhikari called for Governor CV Ananda Bose to intervene by imposing President’s Rule in West Bengal, citing what he described as an increasingly autocratic regime. BJP state president and union minister Sukanta Majumdar echoed these sentiments, explaining that the party had been compelled to call for a statewide bandh. He condemned the state government for ignoring the people's demands for justice and instead turning its police force on peaceful protesters. Majumdar emphasized that the public's primary demand was for a safe and secure environment for women in West Bengal, particularly in the aftermath of the recent crime.

In response, the West Bengal government urged citizens to disregard the bandh call. The chief advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Alapan Bandopadhyay, issued a statement assuring the public that the government would not allow the strike to disrupt daily life. He called on people to continue their routines as usual, stating that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure that normalcy prevailed.

To further counter the strike, the state government issued a notification mandating that all government offices remain open on Wednesday. Employees were instructed to report to work, with the threat of disciplinary action for unauthorized absences unless a valid reason or prior leave had been approved.

The TMC dismissed the BJP’s bandh as a political maneuver designed to gain ground in the state. They insisted that there would be "no bandh" on Wednesday, emphasizing that the state government was committed to maintaining order.

The tragic rape and murder of the young doctor on August 9 have sparked outrage nationwide. Junior doctors in several regions have refused to attend to non-emergency patients, demanding justice for their colleague and increased safety measures for women in hospitals. The ongoing protests reflect the deep anger and frustration felt by many over the state of women's safety in the region.