NEW DELHI, 28 January 2003 — Normal life was affected in the eastern state of West Bengal yesterday due to a 24-hour statewide shut down called by the Socialist Unity Center of India (SUCI).
The strike was called by the left-wing Socialist group to protest a hike in power tariff, educational and court fees, the proposed tax on drinking water and the alleged worsening of law and order situation in the state.
Most of the schools and colleges were shut and office attendance was thin. Police used batons to disperse protesters as much of Calcutta was shut down.
Roads in the city were largely deserted as only government vehicles broke the one-day strike.
Police wielding batons forced thousands of protesters off railway tracks and highways where they tried to block traffic when the strike began around 6:00 a.m., said N.C. Ghosh, police deputy inspector general of the state.
No one was injured. Police rounded up more than 900 people across the state, Ghosh said. Ghosh said riot police were deployed at railway stations, major bus stations and key government installations to prevent trouble during the strike.
Calcutta’s main port was hit by the strike, with at least five ships stuck waiting for loading or unloading, said port spokesman B. Shau. Work was also halted at tea plantations in the northern part of the state as employees failed to show up, according to the Indian Planters Association.
The Calcutta Stock Exchange opened late and operated at reduced strength.
“Brokers didn’t turn up, fearing trouble on the roads,” bourse spokesman Partha Kumar said.
The airport ran as normal, although passengers had difficulty getting to or from it.
