WB govt provides additional security to ensure normal life as strike enforcers scuffle with police

Kolkata: Supporters of a countrywide general strike called by 10 central trade unions on Wednesday scuffled with the police at a few places in West Bengal even as additional security forces were deployed to ensure normal life.

The strike, supported by Left parties in the state, was called against "liberalisation, price rise of essentials, joblessness, increase in contractual work and other issues".

DYFI and CPI(M) workers scuffled with the police in Ganguly Bagan area in south Kolkata as they tried to sit on the thoroughfare.

Police detained some strike supporters, including SFI leader Srijan Bhattacharya, who alleged that police used force to remove them when they were holding peaceful protests.

Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police, South Suburban Division, Bidisha Kalita Dasgupta, and other senior officers were present at the spot to ensure normal traffic movement.

"The situation is normal. We are working to ensure normal transport movement," she said.

In Malda town, Left supporters were stopped as they took out a march in support of the strike.

Police were seen resorting to baton charge to remove supporters of the strike when they tried to block a road at Domjur in Howrah.

In north Bengal, police removed supporters of the strike from the roads when they tried to resort to blockades.

Strike supporters also tried to block train movement at some places in the state.

Supporters of the strike, which began at 6 am, tried to block train movement at Diamond Harbour in the Sealdah South section and Shyamnagar in the North Section of Eastern Railways' Sealdah division.

The West Bengal government made additional transport arrangements and security deployment to ensure that normal life was not impacted during a countrywide general strike called by 10 central trade unions and supported by the Left parties in the state on Wednesday.

Police contingents were posted at important places to ensure the smooth movement of traffic.

According to West Bengal CITU president Anadi Sahu, 10 central trade unions called for the general strike against "liberalisation, price rise of essentials, joblessness, increase in contractual work and other issues".

The 10 trade unions, with support from the Left parties, are protesting the new labour codes and privatisation of PSUs, he said.

While the Centre holds that 44 central labour laws with over 1,200 sections have been assimilated into just four codes in the interest of the working classes, the Left unions and parties say the new labour codes will be detrimental to the interests of the workers.

The Trinamool Congress government in the state has made it mandatory for all its staffers to attend office on Wednesday.

The Trinamool Congress, which has been in power in West Bengal from 2011, has opposed any bandh call in the state, maintaining that it leads to loss of mandays.