Congress advances Bengal shutdown to August 18

The Congress on Monday advanced its shutdown call in West Bengal to August 18 as the earlier date, August 20, coincided with the birth anniversary of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

"We had earlier called the shutdown on August 20. But Congress workers will be busy with programmes to commemorate the day. Rajiv Gandhi is a beloved leader of the nation as also of the party. So we have decided to advance the date by two days," state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told IANS.

Daring Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ask for a CBI probe into the lynching of a college student, the Congress called for the 12-hour shutdown against the growing "anarchy" in the state under the Trinamool Congress regime.

Krishna Prasad Jana, a student of the Sabang Sajanikanta Mahavidyalaya in West Midnapore district, was beaten to death on Friday during a clash in the college.

While a police complaint has been filed against six people for the killing and three of them have been arrested, Superintendent of Police Bharati Ghosh claimed that those named in the complaint as well as the arrested trio were not involved in the attack.

"There is no justice, no rule of law in the state. Under this regime, there have been repeated incidents of rape, murder and lawlessness across the state. Against this anarchy, we will observe a shutdown in the state and I would urge the common people to join us in our endeavour," Chowdhury had said on Sunday.