Shawdesh Desh:

The ongoing protests seeking justice for a murdered doctor turned into violent street skirmishes in Kolkata, India between the activists of ruling All India Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday, reports AFP.

BJP supporters launched a day-long shutdown of Kolkata after the police clashed with protesters, who marched to a government building in Kolkata demanding the resignation of chief minister of West Bengal state Mamata Banerjee, firing tear gas canisters and water cannons, and arresting at least 245 people on Tuesday.

Protesters erected barricades to close roads and railway lines, with police reporting clashes between rival workers across the city and in adjoining districts on Wednesday.

According to Hindustan Times, two people, including the driver of the car of BJP leader Priyangu Pandey, sustained bullet injuries when Pandey’s car was allegedly attacked by unknown persons in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas. Pandey alleged that Trinamool Congress activists opened fire at him and hurled bombs when he was travelling in a car in Bhatpara.

‘Today I was going to our leader Arjun Singh’s residence…We moved some distance and the road was blocked by a jetting machine from the Bhatpara Municipality. The moment our car stopped, around 50-60 people targeted the vehicle. At least seven to eight bombs were thrown at my vehicle and then six to seven rounds of firing were done…This is a joint conspiracy of Trinamool and the police,’ news agency ANI quoted Priyangu Pandey as saying.

BJP leader Arjun Singh said that seven rounds were fired at the car of Pandey and two people sustained bullet injuries.

‘Today his car was attacked…and bullets were fired…The driver has been shot… Seven rounds were fired…This was done in the presence of the ACP. Planning was done to kill Priyangu Pandey… Two persons are injured, one among them is serious,’ said Arjun.

The injured driver has been admitted to Bhatpara State General Hospital. About three minutes from his home, his car slowed down to pass by a municipal truck. The attack took place there.

Arjun Singh accused Trinamool leaders Tarun Sau and MLA Somnath Shyam of being behind the attack, alleging that the miscreants were brought in from Kakinara, adds the report by Hindustan Times.

Doctors, in a separate protest, are expected to hold a rally in memory of their murdered colleague later on Wednesday, reports AFP.

One man has been detained for the murder, but Mamata Banerjee’s government has faced public criticism for the handling of the investigation.

India’s Supreme Court has ordered a national task force to examine how to bolster security for healthcare workers, saying the ‘horrific’ killing had ‘shocked the conscience of the nation’.