Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World:  FB’s bandh cripples normal life in WB

FB’s bandh cripples normal life in WB
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editor on 06 February, 2008 01:24:00
 
Kolkata, Feb 06: A day-long bandh called by Forward Bloc on Wednesday in protest
against the killing of its six supporters in police firing during a party
agitation in Cooch Behar District yesterday is affecting normal life in West
Bengal. According to reports, Forward Bloc activists have blocked the movement
of trains in Howrah and Sealdah division by erecting rail blockades and
barriers. A large number of passengers were left stranded due to the disruption
in railway services in these areas. The party cadre has ransacked petrol pumps
in Hoogly and forced the closure of shops and commercial complexes in several
areas. Some trains on the Howrah main and chord lines have been cancelled after
blockades at Kamarkundu, Baidyabati and some other places. Rail and road
transport has been hit by the bandh. Few vehicles, including government buses,
were seen plying on the roads, according to reports. However, flight movement at
important airports is said to normal. The band is having its major impact in
Coochbehar district, where the firing took place. The toll in the police firing
went up to six as a member of the National Volunteer Force, Krishna Kanta
Burman, succumbed to injuries in a hospital at Dinhata. 166 supporters arrested
Giving more details, the IGP (Law and Order), Raj Kanojia said, “41 bandh
supporters were arrested from different districts either for squatting on
railway tracks or putting up road blockades at many important crossings in the
districts disrupting road and rail traffic”. Altogether 125 bandh-supporters
were arrested so far from different parts of the city, while road blockades were
put up by them at Rajabazar, Shyambazar, S N Banerjee Road and Howrah Bridge,
besides some other places. State Home Secretary P R Roy said although there were
reports of stray incidents, there was no report of any major violence in the
state. The bandh holds political significance, as it is for the first time since
the Left Front came to power in 1977 that a bandh has been called by a front
constituent against its own government. The shutdown is being supported by the
opposition parties, including Trinamool Congress, the Congress party and the
Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI).