Bharat Bandh: Several strike supporters arrested in Bengal

When the news of fresh clashes between strike-supporters and people opposing it are being reported from few areas of West Bengal, including Raniganj in Burdwan district and Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district, the law and order situation in Kolkata is completely under control till 10:30 in the morning.

Air, metro, bus, rail and ferry services in Kolkata and its outskirts have not been effected so far.

A heavy police force have been deployed in entire city.

"As many as 3000 policemen, including senior officers, are on duty today and 357 police pickets have been set up to avoid any untoward incident due to the strike," a senior official of Kolkata Police told IBNS.

Police arrested as many as 24 strike supporters in Cooch Behar district for vandalizing state-bus and at least 30 strike-supporters, including Left-ruled Siliguri Municipal Corporations's Mayor Ashok Bhattacharya, were booked in Siliguri for attempting road blockade.

In Howrah district's Uluberia industrial zone, mixed effect of the strike was reported, when the bandh could not make any effect in Durgapur, Asansol, Haldia and Barrackpore industrial belts, reports said.

In Kolkata, many government-owned and private buses, taxis, luxury cabs and autos are being spotted at several locations, including Howrah railway station, Sealdah railway station, Kolkata (Chitpur) station, Dumdum airport (NSCBI-CCU), Esplanade and city's IT hub Salt Lake Sector V, while very few commuters are being noticed on city roads.

Till the latest update came in, CPI-M state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra, Left Front Chairman Biman Basu and CPI-M MLA Sujan Chakraborty are leading rallies in favour of the strike at Shyambazar, Maulali and Jadavpur 8-B areas respectively in Kolkata.

However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that the strike could not make any change in the life of West Bengal.

While leaving for 8-day-long Europe (Italy and Germany) tour, Banerjee told the media at Kolkata airport, "Strike failed to hit West Bengal, our people foiled it. Life in the state is completely normal."

"I will ask the people of Bengal to keep the state normal like other days. Inform our administration if you face any trouble on roads, we will take immediate action." she added.

Protesting against the alleged anti-labour policies of the Modi government and basing on a 12-point charter of demands, including halt of the privatization and disinvestment of public sector enterprises, an end to contractualization of jobs, a minimum wage of 18,000 rupees per month and an assured pension of 3000 rupees for all workers, including unorganized sector workers, eleven Left-affiliated central trade unions, including CITU and INTUC, have called for a day-long nationwide general strike on Friday, which has been supported by several other trade unions.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)