Date:13/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/13/stories/2007111361680100.htm

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Strike hits normal life in Kolkata

Kolkata Bureau

Nandigram freed of terror: CPI(M) leader

KOLKATA: Normal life here was affected on Monday due to a strike called by the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) in protest against the recent Nandigram incidents. The Trinamool Congress also launched an indefinite non-cooperation stir on the issue.

The strike called by the SUCI and BJP, which was to continue on Tuesday, however, was withdrawn.

One company of the Central Reserve Police Force arrived at Nandigram. Five companies were already there in West Bengal and two more were expected, said Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray. There was no major incident of violence in the Nandigram area since Sunday, he said.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) Central Committee member Shyamal Chaakravarty said most of those forced out of their villages in the wake of hostilities over the past months had returned and “Nandigram has now been freed of terror.”

Stray incidents of violence were reported on Monday from various parts of the State. Supporters of various political outfits tried to obstruct public transport. Several buses were attacked and some set ablaze. Train services were also disrupted. In all, 1,133 persons were arrested.

The Metro and airline services, however, remained normal, though passengers had a tough time in reaching the airport. The Information Technology-enabled services functioned more or less normally as people stayed back in offices, said Information Technology Secretary Siddharth. The strike also had an effect on the ongoing 13th Kolkata Film Festival.

The strike was “spontaneous” and “successful,” said Pradip Bhattacharya, working president of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee.

Mamata for normality

PTI reports:

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said on Monday night that her party had no programme to halt normal life in the State on Tuesday as other political parties had shortened their bandhs from 48 hours to 24 hours.

“Let all roads be open tomorrow for making relief reaching to the affected and so that people can go about their daily normal lives. We are also concerned about daily wage earners,’33’ she said at a meeting at Amta in Howrah district on her way back to Kolkata.