Bangla Bandh evokes lukewarm response

Kolkata, Dec 1 (UNI) Trinamool Congress sponsored 12-hour Bangla bandh has evoked lukewarm response, even as senior Trinamool Congress leaders courted arrest while agitating in favour of the bandh.

Reports of some disruption and violence have filtered in from different parts of the state, the situation has been peaceful on the whole.

There have been incidents of sporadic protests and violence from Brabourne Road, Rashbehari, Ballygunge and Hazra crossings in South Kolkata.

Senior Trinamool leaders Sobhondeb Chattopadhyay, Subroto Mukherjee and Madan Mitra courted arrest trying to disrupt traffic and putting up blockades.

Police had to lathichrage to disperse Trinamool activists from Hazra crossing and now RAF has been deployed in the area. This is considered to be Trinamool Supremo Mamata Banerjee's hotbed.

However, the situation was complete reverse in North Kolkata where vehicles plyed normally and even schools remained open.

The attendance at government and private offices have been moderate and some financial institutions remained open.

Deputy Commissioner (Headquarters) Pradip Chatterjee told UNI, " We have deployed 5000 police personnel in different parts of the city to prevent any untoward incidents." Besides this seven wireless vans, 25 Heavy Duty vehicles are also on the patrol, he said.

"18 mobile escorts have been kept at different parts of the to escort the cars going to the IT sector. besides this 100 plus pickets have been put up at differnt parts of the city," he said.

He also made it clear that instructions have been given to arrest any individual or group trying to disrupt traffic using force.

Meanwhile, reports coming in from different part state that train services have been partially affected on Sealdah, Budgebudge and Dankuni section of eastern Railway.

According to reports around 200 Trinamool activists have courted arrest from across the state.

EDS: picking suitably from previous copy.

UNI BA/SRC1205