Many protesters got arrested as sporadic incidents of vandalism were reported in some parts of West Bengal during the two day nationwide strike called by the central unions on Tuesday protesting against the “anti-people” policies by the centre.
A school bus was stone pelted in Champadali area of Barasat in North 24 Parganas district and later the students from the bus were deboarted, said the police.
Strike supporters burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they also burnt tyres in so many parts of the state which include Kolkata. In Howrah, Siliguri, Bardhaman, Birbhum, North and South 24 Paraganas, clashes broke out between Trinamool Congress workers and strike supporters as TMC activists tried to stop them from forcibly imposing the strike.
Despite the incidents of violence, normal life in an around Kolkata and other parts of the state remained more or less unaffected by the strike call till 12 noon, except a few pockets. Buses and other modes of transportation were seen on the roads although the number of passengers was much less than in other week days.
Tyres were burnt in Central Avenue of Kolkata to stop buses from running on the roads. The protesters had a scuffle with the police when they tried to stop them from squatting on the roads. A government bus was damaged by strike supporters at Champadali. Protesters also vandalised a bus at Jamuria in Paschim Bardhaman district.
Scuffles were witnessed between police and strike supporters in some areas of the state. CPI (M) leaders have come out on the streets in support of the strike. At Jadavpur area in south Kolkata, senior CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty along with several other strike supporters were detained by the police.
Later on the protesters squatted on tracks in some of the places to stop the trains and burnt tyres on the road too whereas The Trinamool Congress Government of the state has opposed the strike call.
The ten central trade unions who called the strike have placed a long list of demands which include minimum wage, universal social security, and workers status including pay and facilities for the scheme workers against the privatisation of the public and government organisations.
The state government had announced that its employees would be barred from availing casual leave or half day leave on Tuesday and Wednesday and no leave will also be allowed on the proceedings of two days strike, said the government notification on Friday.
