Normal life affected due to bandh at Panchla

Howrah (WB) (PTI): Normal life was hit at Panchla in Howrah district, scene of violent clashes that took a communal hue earlier this week, in a bandh by the Congress on Friday.

The bandh had been called to protest the arrest of Panchla gram panchayat pradhan Hafizullah Sheikh on Thursday in connection with the March 10 clashes between two groups which had led to the setting on fire 25 house and ransacking of 30 others.

Two local Congress leaders Gulshan Mallick and Samir Foujdar were arrested during the day for trying to enforce the bandh by setting up road blocks on Howrah-Mumbai NH6 and Amta-Ranihati state highway.

Majority of the shops and bazars were closed and educational institutions reported very thin attendance. Vehicular traffic was affected.

Prohibitory orders clamped in the area were relaxed from 6 a m to 6 p m for the third day on Friday.