Strike hits life in West Bengal; bus set on fire

Friday, March 16, 2007

A state-owned bus was set on fire in Kolkata Friday morning allegedly by supporters of opposition parties who also disrupted road and rail traffic across West Bengal following a general strike called to protest the police firing in Nandigram on Wednesday.
A state bus was set on fire in Sealdah area of the city Friday morning by bandh supporters, officials said. Except this, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state, they said adding strong security arrangements were made in all disricts. Private buses did not hit the roads and only a few state-run buses were plying.
Train services in both Howrah and Sealdah divisions were also hit due to picketing at various stations. Squatters blocked tracks at Uttarpara, Rishra, Serampore, Rampurhat and other stations in Howrah division.
Besides squatting, banana leaves thrown on overhead wires also disrupted train movement in Sealdah South section.
Most of the long distriace trains were stranded at different stations due to picketing, officials said.
However, about a dozen flights belonging to diffrent airlines took off for their destinations by 7.15 this morning.
The international and domestic lounges were full with passengers who assembled there long before the strike began.
The strike was called by Trinamool Congress, Congress, SUCI and BJP and a naxalitie faction CPI(ML-Liberation) on a varrying duration of 12 to 24 hours to protest the killing of at least 25 people in police firing on Wednesday.
In Nandigram in East Midnapore district, tension prevailed in the villages two days after the police firing that killed 14 persons.
Trinamool Congress workers blocked Chandipur-Nandigram road with logs and boulders. Blockades were also reported from Mechada, Nandakumar and Tamluk areas of the district. However, strong police pickets were found in some areas of Nandigram. In view of the bandh, examinations of various boards have been deferred.