Bandh evokes mixed response in North Bengal

Siliguri/Darjeeling, Nov 12 (UNI) The Opposition-sponsored 24-hour ''Bangla Bandh'' in protest against Nandigram violence, evoked mixed response in the hills and plains of North Bengal today.

While all three sub-divisions of Darjeeling district remained unaffected and tea gardens were open, life in Siliguri sub-division and five other districts - Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, North and South Dinajpur and Malda - was badly affected.

A report from Mathabhanga in Coochbehar said a clash between the CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress supporters left two AITC cadres injured.

Train services on Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway connecting Assam, other Northeastern states and Bihar were disrupted as bandh supporters blocked the tracks on many sections, NF Railway sources said.

Vehicular traffic on most of the highways connecting Sikkim, Bihar, Orissa, Assam and other Northeastern states were off the roads.

Workers of tea gardens in the hills of Darjeeling reported to their works, while their counterparts in Jalpaiguri struck work for the day responding to the bandh.

UNI