Bandh on AFT evokes partial response

Puducherry, Apr 28 (UNI) The 12-hour bandh called by the workers of the Government Owned Anglo-French Textile Mills (AFT), supported by several political parties sans the Congress, evoked partial response here today.

The agitation was to press their deamnd for the provision of Central DA to the workers on par with the officers and staffs of the mill.

Almost all shops and other business establishments remained closed Three-wheeler passenger tempos and private buses were off the road today.

However, the Puducherry and Tamil Nadu state-owned buses were plying with police escorts. A few autorickshaws were also seen plying.

All schools and other educational institutions were having holidays presently, government offices, both Central and State, were functioning normally, but with lower attendence as emplyees could not make it to the offices due to the non-availability of transport facilities. Functioning of major textile mills were also affected here.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order. Pickets were posted in all vulnerable areas to ensure no untoward incidents occurred. Mobile patrolling was also intensified, police sources said.

As many as seven leaders of the AFT workers were arrested when they forced shopkeepers to down shutters. They were being remanded to custody.

Meanwhile, the windscreen of three buses,one each belonging to the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Road Transport Corporations and a private bus were shattered in stone pleting.

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