Bengal bandh turns violent

Agencies
16 March

Kolkata, Mar 16: A 12-hour state-wide bandh, called by the Trinamool Congress, is being observed in West Bengal to protest Wednesday's police action in Nandigram. The protestors torched 16 buses in the state.

Within hours of the bandh protestors torched eight state government buses disrupting road and rail traffic across West Bengal.

Train services in both Howrah and Sealdah divisions were also hit due to picketing at various stations. Squatters blocked tracks at Uttarpara, Rishra, Serampore, Rampurhat and other stations in Howrah division.

Most of the long distance trains were stranded at different stations due to picketing, officials said. However, about a dozen flights belonging to different airlines took off for their destinations on Friday morning.

In Nandigram in East Midnapore district, tension prevailed in the villages two days after the police firing that killed 14 persons.

Trinamool Congress workers blocked Chandipur-Nandigram road with logs and boulders. Blockades were also reported from Mechada, Nandakumar and Tamluk areas of the district.

However, strong police pickets were found in some areas of Nandigram.
The bandh, which is expected to hit normal life, has severely affected students as the state Board and ICSE exams have been postponed.

However, the government has assured that it will take appropriate steps to maintain normalcy in the state.

Meanwhile, security has been stepped up across the state. The CISF, entrusted with the security of the operation area at the NSC Bose International Airport, has augmented its deployment further in view of the bandh call, airport sources said.

Fresh violence rocked Nandigram village on Thursday as police fired in the air and lobbed tear gas shells on relatives at a hospital where those injured in Wednesday's firing are being treated.

The police action started virtually minutes after West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee called Wednesday's violence unfortunate in the state Assembly.

Protestors also set fire to a government office, shortly after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Bannerjee alleged being hit by a stone while on her way to areas affected by violence.

Meanwhile, Calcutta High Court in a suo motu action has ordered a CBI inquiry into the police firing that claimed 14 lives in Nandigram.

The West Bengal government on Friday said that all Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in the state have been put on hold until a 'socially balanced' decision was taken in this regard.

Finance Minister Ashim Dasgupta, presenting the state Budget for 2007-08 in the Assembly, said that there was a necessity to take steps for setting up large industries in consultation with people with a necessary balance of agriculture and payment of compensation for land acquired for projects.

With regard to SEZs, he said until a socially balanced decision was taken at the national level, the state government would not take any initiative in the matter.

The state government's move came only two days after a major flare-up of violence at Nandigram in East Midnapore district, where 14 people died after police opened fire on people opposed to the acquisition of their land for a proposed SEZ.