BJP holds protest on Howrah Bridge against Bangladesh lynching; clash with cops choking traffic

The iconic Howrah Bridge turned into a political battlefield on Wednesday morning as a massive protest organized by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led to violent clashes with the police. The demonstration was held to protest the killing of Dipu Das and the ongoing persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. While the police had granted permission for the rally up to a certain point, BJP workers attempted to break through iron barricades to march across the bridge toward Howrah, leading to a high-tension standoff.

When police personnel blocked their path, citing that marches are prohibited on the bridge due to its structural and traffic sensitivity, the situation spiraled out of control. Scuffles broke out as protesters tried to topple the barricades. In a defiant move, hundreds of BJP supporters sat down on the road, completely choking one of the city's most vital transport lifelines. The blockade caused massive traffic snarls, affecting thousands of commuters traveling between Kolkata and Howrah.

Senior police officials arrived at the spot to negotiate, but the protesters refused to budge, demanding the right to proceed. This incident follows a similar violent confrontation on Tuesday, where a rally by the Hindu Jagaran Manch near the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Beckbagan resulted in a lathi charge. The repetition of such scenes within 24 hours has kept the city's security apparatus on high alert, with a large contingent of rapid action forces currently deployed at the bridge.