State bus set afire, lorries ransacked, BJP denies hand

A state bus was set on fire and three lorries allegedly ransacked by BJP activists at Raiganj in north Dinajpur district today during a 12-hour bandh called by the party's district unit.
The BJP leadership, however, denied the charge and claimed that those involved in the ransacking and arson were not their party members.
"Those involved in violence are not our party members. Those who have committed the crime should be identified and then only the truth will come out," BJP state spokesperson Krishanu Mitra said.
Mitra claimed that the 12-hour bandh in north Dinajpur district was conducted in a peaceful manner.

The bandh was called to protest against police lathicharge on the saffron party workers and subsequent arrest of 35 activists, including BJP state secretary Ritesh Tiwary and BJP district president Subhro Roychowdhury.
The bandh was near-total throughout the district as schools, colleges and offices remained shut, police said.
Meanwhile, the district CJM's court rejected bail of the 35 arrested and directed that they be produced in the court tomorrow. The CJM also sought case diaries from the police.
Several persons, including a police officer, were injured yesterday when BJP workers clashed with the police in north Dinajpur district in protest against worsening law and order situation in West Bengal.