BJP activists torch state bus, ransack trucks during bandh

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists on Tuesday set on fire a state bus and ransacked three lorries during a day-long bandh called by their district party unit in North Dinajpur district, the police here said.

The North Dinajpur unit of the BJP called the bandh to protest against police lathicharge on them 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 down, the police said.

Meanwhile, the district CJM's court rejected bail of the 35 arrested and directed that they be produced in the court on Wednesday. The CJM also sought case diaries from the police.