WB: Traffic disrupts as CITU calls for strike

Siliguri, Oct 22: Traffic was disrupted in the hills as the CITU called a 72-hour transport strike from Wednesday, Oct 22 to protest replacement of government signboards with 'Gorkhaland' and 'WB' with 'GL' on number plates of vehicles in Darjeeling. Activists of the CPI(M)'s trade union wing began picketing in Bhaktinagar, Sukna and Khaprailbazar in Darjeeling hills from 0800 hours to stop movement of hill-bound vehicles from Siliguri to Kursheong, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Mirik.

Additional SP Gourav Sharma said the situation was under control and there were no reports of any untoward incidents.

This evening a 21-member delegation, comprising GJM press and publicity secretary Binoy Tamang and other leaders, including Roshan Giri, Raju Pradhan and Amar Lama, is scheduled to meet Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi in Darjeeling.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena's 48-hour general strike, which began yesterday, evoked mild response in the hills.

UNI