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Bharat Bandh Day 2: Violent protests, rail blockades witnessed in many states

| Updated: Wednesday, January 9, 2019, 19:23 [IST]

New Delhi, Jan 9: Sporadic incidents of violence in West Bengal and Kerala and rail blockades in certain states were witnessed Wednesday on the second day of Bharat Bandh, which also saw a partial disruption of banking and insurance services across the country.

Bharat Bandh Day 2 — A deserted look of street and closed shops during the 48-hour-long nationwide general strike

Other sectors like mining, road transport, power supply too bore the brunt of strike call given by country's 10 major central trade unions, except RSS affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, to protest against the government's alleged anti-labour policies and unilateral labour reforms. They had given a call for a two-day Bharat Bandh on January 8 and 9.

Here are the updates:

Newest First Oldest First

4:32 PM, 9 Jan

Tamil Nadu | Trains were stopped by protesters at a few places in Tamil Nadu during the second day of the two-day nationwide stir called by 10 central trade unions. In Chennai, protests were held at Mount Road and Perambur and Guindy railway stations.

3:45 PM, 9 Jan

Delhi - trade unions march from Mandi House now - united colours of trade union flags challenging the Modi Govt's assault on workers rights!

Delhi - trade unions march from Mandi House now - united colours of trade union flags challenging the Modi Govt's assault on workers rights! pic.twitter.com/y9q6tvLZbQ
— CPI-ML Liberation (@cpimlliberation) January 9, 2019

3:17 PM, 9 Jan

Karnataka: According to TV reports, protesters forcefully entered school in Bagalkot and took teachers to task for not sending midday meal workers to take part in the protest.

3:15 PM, 9 Jan

Bandh in Odisha: According to reports, train services were hit on the second day of the strike in Odisha as trade union activists staged 'rail roko' at several places including Bhubaneswar, Balasore and Berhampur.

3:00 PM, 9 Jan

Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah supports Trade Unions' strike, says their demands are justified. He says," All trade unions except BJP affiliated unions took part in the protest. Trade unions' protests are not sponsored by Congress."

2:38 PM, 9 Jan

Bihar’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party, Hindustani Awam Morcha & Left parties participated on the second-day of strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

1:22 PM, 9 Jan

Banking services were partially affected for the second day Wednesday, as a section of PSU bank employees came in support of the nation-wide strike call given by 10 central trade unions against the alleged anti-labour policies of the government. All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) and Bank Employees' Federation of India (BEFI) have supported the strike, which has impacted banking operation where these two unions are strong.

12:19 PM, 9 Jan

Bengaluru: Factory workers and members of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) raise slogans during a 48-hour-long nationwide general strike called by central trade unions in protest against the "anti-people'' policies of the Centre.

12:15 PM, 9 Jan

Sujan Chakraborty along with other protestors were detained by police while participating in the two-day nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

Kolkata: CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty along with other protestors detained by police while they were participating in the two-day nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/umdCeJitKc
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2019

12:14 PM, 9 Jan

Karnataka: All the government buses in Karnataka’s Gadag district have been completely stopped after the bus drivers’ association decided not to work on the second day of Bharat Bandh. CPI leader Doulat Kuri said they will stop the buses if they start working again.

11:38 AM, 9 Jan

Kerala: The SBI treasury branch near the government secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram was attacked by strike supporters. The branch manager was manhandled and his room was vandalised.Following the incident, police protection has been given .

11:26 AM, 9 Jan

After Tuesday’s police firing in Tripura, mobile internet services have been suspended to stop propagation of fake messages through WhatsApp and other social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. The para-military force also held a flag march in the affected areas of Madhabbari, in West Tripura.

11:26 AM, 9 Jan

West Bengal: The suspected bombs found near Habra’s Ashoknagar in West Bengal has been disposed of by civil authorities as of 10.25 AM. Normal services resumed over the Bangaon section after the bombs were cleared.

11:25 AM, 9 Jan

All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur has said that there will be a complete bandh in Goa and Bihar, while 100 per cent strike is expected in other parts of the country too. Farming communities, through their associations, have also extended support to the strike. Student and teacher organisations of various universities have also declared support. Meanwhile, public transport in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala remain disrupted.

10:44 AM, 9 Jan

West Bengal: Two students injured after protestors participating in the two-day nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others, pelt stones at a bus at Shanpur Mor on Jhikira-Howrah route.

Howrah: Two students injured after protestors participating in the two-day nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others, pelt stones at a bus at Shanpur Mor on Jhikira-Howrah route. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/R3YpOEmUFs
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2019

10:06 AM, 9 Jan

Kerala: Rail Roko protests continue across Kerala on the second day of the trade union's strike. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation incurred a tentative revenue loss of 5.40 crores on the first day of strike after 4,504 schedules were cancelled.

10:05 AM, 9 Jan

Karnataka: Stone pelting incidences occurred in and around Bangalore in the wee hours of the morning. 12 KSRTC buses were attacked near Wilson garden, Nelamangala road, Mysore road, Audugodi and Madanayakanahalli.

9:09 AM, 9 Jan

West Bengal: State govt directs bus drivers to wear helmet while driving, in view of nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages, social security schemes & against privatisation of public and government sector.

9:08 AM, 9 Jan

Central Rail CPRO: In view of BEST buses strike Mumbai Division will run extra sub-services. Main line- Thane dep 13.44hrs&CSMT arrival 14.40hrs CSMT dep 14.49hrs&Kalyan arrival 16.15hrs Harbour line- Vashi dep 13.44hrs&CSMT arrival 14.32hrs CSMT dep14.45hrs&Panvel arrival 16.05

9:08 AM, 9 Jan

9:07 AM, 9 Jan

Strike by Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport(BEST) bus employees over their demands including fixation at master grade of employees employed after 2007,merging BEST budget with ‘A’ budget of BMC & resolving the issue of employee service residences, continues today.

Mumbai: Strike by Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply&Transport(BEST) bus employees over their demands including fixation at master grade of employees employed after 2007,merging BEST budget with ‘A’ budget of BMC & resolving the issue of employee service residences, continues today. pic.twitter.com/P7FWVUXsjJ
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2019

9:02 AM, 9 Jan

The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and Bank Employees Federation of India has informed the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) of the two-day nationwide strike on January 8-9, 2019, IDBI Bank said in a filing to the BSE.

8:37 AM, 9 Jan

The Odisha Government has directed the District Collectors and District Magistrates to assess the situation in their respective district and decide accordingly for the closure of the educational institutions. In a letter written to district officials, Additional Secretary, Partha Sarthi Mishra ordered for necessary caution. "During `Bharat Bandh` call on January 9, there may be apprehension of untoward incidents in different parts of the state. Hence, you are hereby requested to assess the situation in your district and in case there is any compelling situation which is likely to affect the Educational Institutions, you may kindly take a suitable decision for closure of the educational institutions within your jurisdiction," read the letter.

8:37 AM, 9 Jan

West Bengal: Train services on Sealdah-Lakshmikantapur Namkhana and Diamond Harbour section affected as strike supporters have thrown banana leaves on overhead wire at Dakshin Barasat, Mathurapur between Nischindapur-Kakdwip, Kakdwip-Namkhana on Sealdah-Lakshmikantapur Namkhana section. Banana leaves have also been thrown at and Basuldanga on Sealdah-Diamond Harbour section. Tower vans have already been dispatched to remove the banana leaves from the overhead wire to restore normal services. Normal services are maintained over other sections of Sealdah division.

8:30 AM, 9 Jan

Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) cancelled 4,504 schedules as the Central Trade Unions went on a two-day nationwide strike. A tentative revenue loss of 5.40 crores is calculated by the corporation and services of 18.21 lakh kilometres were cancelled on the first day of strike..

8:29 AM, 9 Jan

Banking and transport services are likely to inconvenience the public today as the all-India strike by trade unions enters its second and final day.

6:38 PM, 8 Jan

Banking and postal services were partially affected in Chhattisgarh as the Central Trade Unions went on a two-day nationwide strike against the government's alleged anti-worker policies and unilateral labour reforms.

3:56 PM, 8 Jan

Strike supporters burn tyres in Guwahati.

Assam: Visuals of protest from Hengrabari area of Guwahati. #CitizenshipAmendmentBill pic.twitter.com/MpSWogt2qW
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

3:46 PM, 8 Jan

To ensure that Sabarimala pilgrims are not affected by the strike, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has been operating buses from various destinations to Pamba, the foothills of the Sabarimala temple. However, KSRTC buses are not plying on other routes.

9:02 AM, 8 Jan

Banking services across the country are also likely to be affected on January 8-9.

9:02 AM, 8 Jan

CITU state president Anathalavattom Anandan said that the strike is being conducted to protest against the alleged anti-workers policies of Narendra Modi-led Centre.

9:08 AM, 8 Jan

In Odisha, all educational institutions would be closed in the wake of the bandh call. A statement issued by the state’s Higher Education Department confirmed the same. The decision was taken keeping in view the safety of students. Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has extended its support to the proposed strike.

9:08 AM, 8 Jan

While Kerala would also see bandh on the day, called by the Joint Trade Union Council, a platform of various trade unions, there is no information yet on whether educational institutions would be closed for the day.

9:10 AM, 8 Jan

In Assam, Central Trade Unions have called a two-day nationwide strike demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others

Assam: Central Trade Unions have called a two-day nationwide strike demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others; Visuals from Guwahati pic.twitter.com/vbcQfCKk9m
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

9:10 AM, 8 Jan

Police in Kolkata detain CPM workers protesting in support of 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions. Their demands include minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

9:10 AM, 8 Jan

Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) buses will not ply from 5 am today (January 8) as nearly 35,000 workers are on strike after talks with the management failed on Friday evening. The BEST management has invoked MESMA (Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act), and the Industrial court has also restrained the union from going ahead with the strike. However, not a single bus has left the depots across Mumbai in the past five hours.

9:11 AM, 8 Jan

In Odisha, Members of Central Trade Unions hold protests and block commuters in Bhubaneswar demanding minimum wages and social security schemes among others.

9:27 AM, 8 Jan

In Bengaluru, App-based cabs and airport taxis and Metro trains is operating as usual. IDBI Bank, Bank of Baroda, Allahabad Bank and Karur Vysya Bank, among others, have informed BSE banking services are likely to be hit. Insurance and telecom sectors could take a hit as LIC, GIC and BSNL employees are participating in the strike.

9:39 AM, 8 Jan

In West Bengal, Central Trade Union protests underway at Rupsa, Jaleswar and Datan in Bhadrak- Kharagpur railway section and Raghunathbari in Haldia railway section.

9:40 AM, 8 Jan

In Delhi, All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) members hold protest in Patparganj industrial area against privatisation of public and government sector and demanding minimum wages, social security among others

Delhi: All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) members hold protest in Patparganj industrial area against privatisation of public and government sector and demanding minimum wages, social security among others pic.twitter.com/jbfilCAwYN
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

9:43 AM, 8 Jan

Farmers across the country under the aegis of the Left peasant wings would join the two-day nationwide general strike on January 8 and 9 called by central trade unions against the alleged repressive policies for workers adopted by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.

9:51 AM, 8 Jan

BMRCL increase number of trips due to Bharat Bandh.

9:54 AM, 8 Jan

The Shahpur-Mumbai Nasik Highway will be blocked from 11.30 onwards as the protestors are organizing a 'raasta roko.' Apart from this, several other national highways will be blocked after 11 am today, including prominent ones such as Charhoti highway and the Mumbai-Ahemedabad Highway.

9:54 AM, 8 Jan

Assam: The strike in Assam is not related to the trade unions. Here, the students' bodies of the north-eastern region have decided to observe a bandh in support of the call given by an influential students' union to protest the proposed Citizens Amendment Bill, 2016. According to guwahatiplus.com, some private educational institutions such as Sanskriti The Gurukul, Royal Global School and Don Bosco will remain closed today, while transport services may be hit.

9:55 AM, 8 Jan

Kerala State Road Transport Corporation is not operating in the state, while train services have also been delayed and disrupted due to the bandh called by trade unions. According to initial reports, trains were blocked in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode.

9:55 AM, 8 Jan

10:03 AM, 8 Jan

Mumbai: Engineers, operators and linesmen of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), the state-run power distribution company, Mahagenco and Mahatransco are also on strike for two days, which could affect restoration of power cuts/outages, according to a report in Times of India.

10:22 AM, 8 Jan

Tension in Asansol during the band called by the left trade unions against the anti people policy of the central government. SBSTC bus runned by Bengal government was allegedly ransacked by the supporters of trade unions .

West Bengal: Clash between TMC and CPM workers in Asansol during 48-hour nationwide strike called by Central Trade Unions demanding minimum wages, social security schemes & against privatisation of public and government sector. pic.twitter.com/5oM6TWxnx7
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

10:25 AM, 8 Jan

Mumbai: 40 extra buses being run by state transport department in the view of an indefinite strike by BEST (Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport) over demands of implementation of the merger of the BEST budget with principal budget of the BMC, employee service residences etc

10:32 AM, 8 Jan

Bengaluru: As bus services stop in the city in view of Bharat Bhandh, auto rickshaw demand has been increased.

10:33 AM, 8 Jan

Karnataka: BGS Vidyapeetha College in Mysuru displays a holiday sign on the gate, while conducting exams inside. Meanwhile, no buses were seen plying in Yadgir. Conductors and drivers seen relaxing reading papers.

11:00 AM, 8 Jan

In Bengaluru: Goons pelted stones at buses traveling from Sharada colony in Basaveshwaranagar to Majestic. A complaint has been filed at the Sheshadripuram police station.

11:00 AM, 8 Jan

Patna: Several AITUC activists were seen staging a protest outside railway station shouting slogans against Modi led government.

11:02 AM, 8 Jan

AITUC general secretary Amarjeet Kaur tells PTI that Jawaharlal Nehru University students’ unions have expressed solidarity.

11:02 AM, 8 Jan

“The strike is quite visible in Assam, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Manipur, Bihar, Rajasthan, Goa, Punjab, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Haryana — particularly in the targeted industrial areas and different mines,” Amarjeet Kaur, general secretary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), tells PTI.

11:02 AM, 8 Jan

West Bengal transport minister Suvendu Adhikari had said the government would ensure 500 additional buses on the roads to counter the bandh.

11:03 AM, 8 Jan

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said that though the Trinamool Congress opposes the policies of the central government that the strike is supposed to protest, the state government is against bandhs and she would not allow disruption of normal life.

11:19 AM, 8 Jan

Schools have been forced to shut down as the strike affects the public transport in Tamil Nadu’s Thiruvarur District. Thiruvarur has a large majority of Left-wing supporters and the DMK union is lending its support to the national strike. About 2,000 autos were stopped and the private buses were not operated. School children and public are largely affected due to this two-day strike.

12:11 PM, 8 Jan

Kerala: A section of traders in Kochi and Kozhikode opened shops defying the general strike that turned out to be a total shut down in most parts of Kerala. In Kochi, shops were opened in Broadway, one of the major shopping hubs in the city. However, the strike supporters did not allow traders to open shops in other parts of the city. Business was run as usual on the Sweet Street in Kozhikode with traders joining hands in keeping the strike supporters at bay.