Forward Block road blockade halts NH traffic

Kolkata, Sep 7(UNI) South Bengal remained cut-off by road from north for few hours today following blockade on National and State Highways as part of a 'chakka jam' programme demanding immediate central assistance for the drought hit people in six north Bengal districts.

Thousands of vehicles were stranded for hours as party activists blocked altogether 30 intersections in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar North and South Dinajpur and Malda districts.

However, police swung into action later to arrest about 2,000 party workers and removed the blockades.

The agitators were demanding, among other things, grants for fishermen, waiver of loans and new loans for small and marginal farmers and fodder at free of cost for cattle.

In a statement issued here, Forward Bloc state Secretary Ashok Ghosh said the party would call for a north Bengal bandh on November 22 if the centre did not take remedial measures.

Describing the drought as 'unprecedented', Mr Ghosh also demanded the state government to tackle the situation on war footing.

UNI KDG KK SHB PC1925