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Normal life hit partially in West Bengal

Special Correspondent

— Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury

A deserted Vidyasagar Setu (second Hooghly Bridge) during the bandh called by the Trinamool Congress and the SUCI to protest the rising prices of all commodities in the country.

KOLKATA: The 10-hour West Bengal bandh called by the Trinamool Congress and the Socialist Unity Centre of India on Monday in protest against price rise hit normal life partially. But for stray incidents of violence in which a few buses were attacked, the day passed off peacefully. In all, 460 people were arrested for blocking roads and disrupting rail services, Inspector-General (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said.

Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, who led a procession in south Kolkata, claimed that the response to the bandh call was “spontaneous.”

“It is an expression of protest by the people against the failure of the Centre and the State government to check skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.” The bandh period, initially for 12 hours, was scaled down by two hours “in response to requests, Monday being an occasion for weddings,” she said.

Roads in the city wore a deserted look but for an occasional state bus and tram. Squatting by bandh supporters on the track held up suburban and long-distance trains in the Sealdah and Howrah divisions. But metro services were normal. Air services to and from the city airport were unaffected.

Normal activity continued in the industrial sector. Tea gardens in north Bengal were open as were most shops and commercial establishments.

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