Bandh cripples normal life in siliguri

The 24-hour Bengal bandh called by the Forward Bloc (FB) had a major impact in Siliguri today. The bandh also paralysed daily life in Jalpaiguri, both the districts of North and South Dinajpur and Malda. The bandh call, however, produced no effect in the Darjeeling Hills and on the tea plantations.

Twenty bandh picketers in Siliguri, 16 in Jalpaiguri district and 26 in South Dinajpur district were arrested. In Siliguri, markets, business and educational establishments, private and government offices and banks remained closed for the day. The Siliguri SDO office, however, functioned as usual.

The bandh threw traffic movement out of gear throughout north Bengal. Bandh supporters blocked the down Rajdhani Express at Ambari (Falakata), the Brahammaputra Mail at Jalpaiguri Road, the Kathihar-New Jalpaiguri Passenger at Ranidanga and the Haldibari-NJP Passenger at Haldibari. The government railway police personnel dispersed the picketers and cleared the blockades within 10 to 15 minutes. Flight services to and from Bagdogra airport remained unaffected by the bandh.

In Jalpaiguri the bandh was peaceful, the district magistrate, Mr R Ranjeet, said. According to the Jalpaiguri SP, Mr Tripurari, 16 persons were arrested in connection with picketing. The situation was the same at Alipurduar, another principal town of the district.

On behalf of Forward Bloc, the state secretariat member and former MLA, Mr Gobinda Roy, said that the traditionally democratic-minded people of Jalpaiguri observed today's bandh to vent their protest against the butchery of democracy under CPI-M tyranny.

The 24-hour bandh called by the FB had a major effect in South Dinajpur district. Other than the collectorate building, all other establishments remained close. The South Dinajpur police super, Mr KK Mullick, said that 26 picketers had been arrested from Gangarampur.

The FB sponsored bandh supported by other political parties paralysed life in Malda. Almost all private vehicles, including private buses, stayed off the roads. Schools and colleges opened partially. Business establishments and big shops in the market remained closed. Bandh supporters blocked rail movement at Harishchandrapur in the Chanchal sub-division.

The 24-hour Bengal bandh called by the FB today had no impact in the three hill sub-divisions. In the Darjeeling Hills, all government and private institutions and offices remained open. Vehicles plied as usual.