Kolkata, Sep 26: Protesters in West Bengal vandalised government buses and torched tyres in Midnapore area on Wednesday amid a state-wide bandh called by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The state-wide shutdown has been called in protest of the death of two students in Islampur on September 20. In the wake of a shutdown, rail and bus services in several parts of the state were severely hit. Rail services were obstructed on Howrah-Bardhaman Main Line, Sealdah-Barasat Bongaon section of Eastern Railway Sealdah Division, Sealdah-Diamond Harbour Section and Bandel Katwa section on Eastern Railways Howrah Division.

According to a tweet by ANI, security was increased in the city in view of the 12-hour bandh called by BJP in West Bengal today. Many buses were vandalised and bus drivers were seen wearing helmets for safety. The drivers of government buses in Cooch Behar were seen wearing helmets while driving after some of the buses were vandalised by protesters today.

West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee on Tuesday urged all government as well as private schools to remain open. He assured them that the state government will counter the 12-hour shutdown called by the BJP on Wednesday across the state.

According to reports, the two students were killed when protesters clashed with the police over recruitment of an Urdu teacher at Daribhita High School in North Dinajpur district. Students had demanded that teachers be recruited for science and other subjects. Reports inform that the students and the locals had stopped two newly-recruited teachers, one for Urdu and another for Sanskrit, from entering the school on September 20 resulting in a clash.

On Tuesday, the opposition BJP took out rallies in the city and the state in support of the 'Bangla bandh', while the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) countered it with processions denouncing it. According to a report by PTI, the BJP alleged that ITI student Rajesh Sarkar and third-year college student Tapas Barman were killed in police firing, but the police denied the claim. Meanwhile, District Superintendent of Police Sumit Kumar has maintained that police did not resort to firing during the incident.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 26, 2018 09:05 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).