Near-total shutdown save in Hills
Posted by barunroy on June 7, 2008
SILIGURI, June 6: The Trinamul Congress sponsored bandh in protest against the hike in fuel prices was marked with hostilities in north Bengal today. While the bandh supporters allegedly broke a few windowpanes of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation office, two persons including a trader were injured at Islampur, North Dinajpur in an alleged clash with the bandh supporters. Three Trinamul supporters were arrested in connection with the incident.
Trouble erupted at Mathabhanga in Cooch behar too when the bandh supporters tried to resist the SDO, Mr Anindya Kar, from entering his office. The SDO allegedly slapped a Trinamul Congress supporter and the police had to lathi charge to disperse the picketers. Three persons including a policeman were injured in the incident. The Trinamul Congress has decided to demonstrate at the Mathabhanga SDO office on Tuesday to protest against the police action.
Trinamul Congress supporters also resisted the district judge from entering the court at Cooch Behar. In addition to government offices, banks, schools and colleges, the picketers also compelled the Congress-run Cooch Behar Municipality to keep its office closed. The main entrance of the district magistrate’s office was also found closed. Fifteen bandh supporters were arrested in Cooch Behar today.
Trinamul Congress, SUCI and CPI-ML (ND) supporters blocked rail tracks, the National Highway 34 at Malda this morning. They forced Railway employees to suspend Railway services at Malda Town Station as the police remained silent spectators. Some government offices and banks opened in Malda and some primary school teachers belonging to CPI-M backed organistions tried to attend schools but the students were not present. The bandh hampered train services from New Jalpaiguri station. The Howrah bound Down Kanchenjungha Express and the Delhi bound Avad Assam Express, were stranded at NJP and Ambari stations, respectively.
Train services were disrupted at Cooch Behar and Malda too. The Dadar Express was detained at Ghoksadanga Station, Alipurduar-Bamanhat passenger train at Kholta near Baneswar Station, Lokmanya Express at New Cooch Behar Station, and the Haldibari-NJP Passenger train at Haldibari Station.The bandh, which almost stopped normal life in North and South Dinajpur districts, had no effect in the Darjeeling hills. [The Statesman]
