Statesman News Service

DURGAPUR, Aug. 21. — Bengal reacted cautiously to the 24 hr SUCI- sponsored bandh. Barring a few stray incidents, it was largely peaceful. While transport stayed off the roads and educational institutions remained closed, most heavy industries ignored the bandh. The bandh was total in Burdwan, Bankura and Krishnagar, but got a lukewarm reception in Hooghly. In Haldia, as many as 149 bandh supporters were arrested.
Life came to a halt in Burdwan as vehicles stayed off the roads and markets remained closed. Barring a few incidents, the bandh was peaceful. Coal mines and other heavy industries witnessed normal attendance. SUCI district secretary, Mr Gopal Kundu alleged that a bandh campaigner was beat up by the police. Three other women activists were allegedly roughed up by CPI-M goons at Benachitty in Durgapur.
The arrest of advocate and SUCI activist, Mr Haridas Banerjee from the district court complex area in Bankura created a flutter. Lawyers protested the police action saying that the cops had no right to book a lawyer from the court complex. Mr Arup Chakraborty, executive of the Bankura Bar Association alleged: “Mr Banerjee was arrested only because he is a SUCI activist. He had come to court to attend the bar and wasn’t provoking others.” The Bar Association demanded an apology from the police for the act. Mr Banerjee was later released. The Bankura Bar Association has convened an emergency meeting tomorrow regarding the incident. Bankura police arrested 35 SUCI activists, including district secretary, Mr Joydev Pal.
Bandh supporters blocked railway tracks at Baidyabati and Begampore in Hooghly for which the Kalka Mail had to be detained at Baruipore. Government offices saw normal attendance. Seven SUCI supporters were arrested from Chanditola and Serampore, police said.
A total of 149 SUCI activists were arrested from various parts of Haldia district according to East Midnapore police superintendent, Mr Debasish Roy. The Rapid Action Force were deployed in Contai, Kolaghat and Tamluk. However, industries chose to ignore the bandh. All industrial units functioned normally and the Haldia dock complex was unaffected by the strike.
Police picked up 12 SUCI and CPI (ML) activists from Ranaghat in Nadia for trying to block the NH-34 in the morning. Railway traffic was disrupted for a few hours as bandh supporters squatted on tracks at Bahirgabhi on the Ranaghat-Gede section of Sealdaha division. Shops, markets, educational institutions and courts were closed and vehicles stayed off the roads.
Attendance was poor at government offices but normal at the district collectorate and sub-divisional offices, according to district magistrate Mr Kanwaljit Singh Cheema. The law and order situation was normal and no arrests were made. SUCI district leaders claimed the bandh was a success.