NEW DELHI, SEPT 7
A general strike called by major trade unions today crippled normal life in Left-ruled States of West Bengal and Kerala and hit banks and flights in the two States but rest of the country was largely unaffected by the shutdown.
Banking and insurance services in the country were partially affected but were hit the most in West Bengal and Kerala and services like cash payments, deposit in branches,clearing, foreign exchange transactions took a hit.
The strike called by eight Central trade unions, including Congress-affiliated INTUC against price rise, alleged violation of labour laws and disinvestment in public sector units (PSUs), shut down schools, colleges and government and private offices in West
Bengal and roads in Kolkata wore a deserted look with markets, commercial establishments closed and most vehicles off the roads.
Barring Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, no minister attended the State secretariat, where out of a total of 6,000 employees only 60 were present.
Inspector General Police (law and Order) Surjit Kar Purakayastha said 1,200 Trinamool Congress workers were arrested for demonstrating near the office of Howrah district magistrate violating prohibitory orders. Besides, 38 Trinamool Congress youth wing workers were arrested for demonstrating before the State secretariat.
One person was killed and three others were injured in an armed clash between Trinamool Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) at Chandipur village in Nanoor police station area in Birbhum district but the police said it had no relation with the strike. Trinamool Congress claimed that the person who died was a party worker.
In Kerala, the strike was total in the transport sector with buses, trucks, taxis and autorickshaws keeping off the roads and attendance was thin in offices and banks whose unions supported the strike.
Airlines cancelled over 170 flights from various cities to West Bengal and Kerala in the wake of the strike but national carrier Air India said its operations were not hampered due to the stir.
