Congress bandh to protest killing of Bengal student allegedly by TMC activists

Midnapore: Congress on Saturday called a 12-hour bandh at Sabang block in West Midnapore district to protest against the alleged lynching of a student in Sabang college.

Educational institutions, markets and offices were closed during the bandh, which was supported by CPI(M) and SUCI, and few vehicles plied on the roads. No untoward incident has been reported till noon, a police official said.

Congress student union Chhatra Parishad had given a strike call today to protest against the student's death yesterday.

The student Krishna Prasad Jana was beaten to death on Friday during a clash between student unions of Congress and Trinamool Congress over felicitation to state minister Soumen Kumar Mahapatra at Sabang college. Five persons were arrested in connection with the incident.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described Jana's death as the "most unfortunate incident" and had ordered police inquiry into the matter.

Criticising the role of the police in the matter, state Congress leader Manas Bhunia said, "Both the student strike and the shutdown in Sabang is getting immense response from the masses. The police is sitting idle and is trying to save the culprits who are from the ruling party."

Bhunia questioned whether West Bengal Chief Minister, who has described the incident as most unfortunate, will take action against the culprits.

The Left student's union too has called a student's strike all over the state today to protest against the killing.

"We feel that whatever the ideology, an attack on student has to be condemned. So all the four Left student's wing has decided to call a student strike," SFI leader Debojoti said.

BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh felt that the police would act on behalf of the ruling TMC, and only a CBI probe into the incident can bring out the truth.

"I feel that only a CBI inquiry into the incident can bring out the truth. Because the police will try to hush up the matter as TMC student leaders are involved in it," Singh said.

When contacted a senior police official of West Midnapore said, "We have already started the investigation and have arrested few people last evening only. We are looking into all aspects."

TMC leader Ashok Rudra, however, denied the allegations of involvement of TMCP leader into the incident.