Life grinds to halt, violence marks Bengal bandh

Kolkata, Mar 16 (UNI) Life came to a grinding halt in West Bengal today as sporadic violence marked the opposition-sponsored statewide bandh in protest against Wednesday's police firing at Nandigram.

Bandh supporters, belonging to the opposition Trinamool Congress, Congress and SUCI, disrupted railway services by squatting on tracks, put up road blockades, attacked government offices and set ablaze vehicles in different parts of the state.

About 800 people were arrested in different parts of the state on various charges as bandh supporters beat up government officials, set ablaze buses, attacked vehicles and disrupted rail and road traffic, Inspector General of Police(Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said.

Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray said Congress supporters beat up the Additional District Magistrate and four top officials in North Dinajpur district. Deputy Magistrate Probhat Chatterjee was admitted to hospital in a critical condition, he said.

Altogether 12 people, including two police officials were injured when bandh supporters clashed with law keepers in Jalpaiguri town while reports of clashes between rival party supporters were received from Birbhum.

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