Bengal shut down protesting police firing

Kolkata, Feb 6: The Forward Bloc, a member of the ruling Left Front in West Bengal, has called for a day-long state-wide shutdown today in protest against the killing of four of their activists in police firing during a party agitation in Cooch Behar District.

This is for the first time in the 31-year history of the Left Front in the state that workers of a constituent party were killed in police firing and called an anti-government shutdown by an alliance partner. The opposition parties, including Trinamool Congress, the Congress party and the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) have supported the shutdown call.

The All-India Forward Bloc (AIFB) has said that the party will observe nationwide protest against the police brutality in West Bengal.

Besides, mass rallies will also be organised in front of Sub-Divisional Offices (SDOs) across the State.

On Tuesday, four Forward Bloc activists were killed and several others were injured when police opened fire on party supporters, who turned violent during an agitation programme at Dinhatta in Cooch Behar District.

Over 20 policemen were also injured outside SDO's office in Dinhatta when party activists holding a district agitation programme turned violent and clashed with police. The mob set a police vehicle on fire and damaged government property.

A large police force has been deployed in the area to avoid any kind of untoward incident.

Describing the police firing as 'barbaric and unprovoked,' AIFB General Secretary Debabrata Biswas yesterday said the incident would not only have its impact on the unity of the Left Front but all over the country.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee ordered an administrative inquiry into the deaths and injury to several others, which he described as 'unfortunate'.

ANI