Kolkata: Several protesters were arrested as sporadic incidents of vandalism were reported from parts of West Bengal on Tuesday during the two-day nationwide strike called by central trade unions protesting against the “anti-people” policies of the Centre.
Stones were pelted at a school bus in Champadali area of Barasat in North 24 Parganas district. The students were later deboarded from the bus, police said. Strike supporters burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and burnt tyres in various parts of the state including Kolkata.
In Howrah, Siliguri, Bardhaman, Birbhum, North and South 24 Paraganas, clashes broke out between Trinamool Congress workers and strike supporters as TMC activists tried to stop them from forcibly imposing the strike. Despite the incidents of violence, normal life in an around Kolkata and other parts of the state remained more or less unaffected by the strike call till 12 noon, except a few pockets.
Buses and other modes of transportation were seen on the roads although the number of passengers were much less than in other week days. Tyres were burnt in Central Avenue of Kolkata to stop buses from plying in the roads. The protesters had a scuffle with the police when they tried to stop them from squatting on the roads.
A government bus was damaged by strike supporters at Champadali. Protesters also vandalised a bus at Jamuria in Paschim Bardhaman district. Scuffles were witnessed between police and strike supporters in some areas of the state. At Jadavpur area in south Kolkata, senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty along with several other strike supporters were detained by the police.
Protesters squatted on tracks in some places to stop trains and burnt tyres on the roads. CPI(M) leaders have come out on the streets in support of the strike. The Trinamool Congress government in the state has opposed the strike call. Ten Central trade unions who have called the strike have placed a charter of demands that include minimum wage, universal social security, workers status and including pay and facilities for the scheme workers, against privatisation of public and government organisations.
The state government had announced that its employees would be barred from availing casual leave or half day leave on Tuesday and Wednesday. No leave will also be allowed on the day preceding the two-day strike or following it, a government notification said on Friday.
