Left trade unions-sponsored bandh evokes mixed response in J'khand

Ranchi, Aug 20 (UNI) The countrywide bandh, called by the seven Left-wing Central Trade Unions in protest against the Centre's ''anti-people economic policies'' and in support of their six-point demands, evoked a mixed response across the state.

The agitators disrupted rail and road traffic in various parts of the state, including Koderma and Bokaro.

A report from Koderma said the agitators sat on the railway tracks for more than an hour and blocked the Ranchi-Patna highway for about four hours.

In the state capital, the bandh registered partial impact as government offfices and business establishments remained open.

In Bokaro the rail traffic remain affected in Gomia for a short period while party cadres sat on dharna and shouted anti-government slogans.

About 85 agitators were detained in Dumka and released later.

Similarly, long route buses did not ply on roads in Chatra.

Seven trade unions, including the CPI(M) affiliated Centre for Indian Trade Unions (Citu) and the CPI-affiliated All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), called for a nationwide general strike today in protest against the UPA government's policies.

The six-point demands included containing unprecedented price rise, widening economic disparity, falling real wages and mass-scale violation of the labour laws and rising unemployment.

UNI TEAM AM DPM RL HT1727