Trinamool-sponsored bandh partially affects Bengal life

Kolkata, Dec 01 (UNI) One person was killed and seven others were injured in separate incidents as the Trinamool Congress today observed a 12-hour statewide bandh, marked by stray violence and obstruction of road and railway tracks that partially affected normal life.

The bandh, being supported by the Congress, was called in protest against "police atrocities" on the protesters against acquisition of agricultural land by the Left Front Government for setting up of the Tata Motors' small car factory at Singur in Hooghly district.

The Socialist Unity Centre (SUCI) also gave a separate call for bandh.

The bandh took place a day after Trinamool Congress MLAs went for a massive destruction of property in the state Assembly in a rampaging spree while protesting the alleged "illegal detention and assault" of party supremo Mamata Banerjee by police on her way to Singur.

Condemning the "uncivilised and barbaric" act of Trinamool legislators, veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu demanded "exemplary punishment" of those responsible. He said after a meeting of the ruling Left Front that the "vandalism", carried out under the leadership of Ms.Banerjee, was unheard of in the Parliamentary history of the world.

According to official reports, the bandh evoked partial response with normal attendance in Government offices, factories and tea gardens while the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, the city's underground metro system and the IT hub at Salt Lake functioned normally. More than 800 state-run buses, adequate number of trams and taxis also plied on streets, though with fewer passengers.

Inspite of a massive security arrangement, most of the shops and markets, banks, commercial establishments and educational institutions, however, remained closed and people took to the street in lesser number.

Ms Banerjee and Pradesh Congress Working President Pradip Bhattacharjee claimed that the bandh was a success and vindicated the people's support to the cause of farmers while the Left Front described it as a flop. Left Front Chairman Biman Basu said the Trinamool workers had resorted to violence because the people did not support the bandh.

Inspector Genral of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said altogether 2,400 bandh supporters, including few Trinamool leaders, were arrested throughout the state for violence, barricading roads and railway tracks and obstructing people from joining their duties.

He said a 45-year-old state government employee Pranay Das was killed on the spot and four other passengers sustained injuries when a group of Bandh supporters pelted stones on a government bus they were travelling at Serapore crossing near Raigunj in North Dinajpur district.

Later the Trinamool supporters also set fire to the bus damaging it badly. Seven bandh supporters had been arrested in this connection.

In another incident, the bandh supporters also pelted stones and damaged a Kolkata-Dhaka long distance bus near the bordering town of Bongoan in North 24 Parganas district injuring three people, including a Bangladeshi woman.

Meanwhile, demarcation of the acquired land at Singur started amid prohibitory orders under 144 Cr P C with a large police protection. Few hundred villagers were engaged in erection of posts on the basis of daily wages.

The Government has decided to hand over the land to the Tata Motros this month to meet the company's deadline for the first small car to roll out in 2008.

UNI KDG-ABA PC AB 1821