Kolkata: Nearly 350 bandh supporters were on August 21 arrested for blocking road and rail traffic during the 24-hour Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) and Communist Party of India – Marxist/Leninist (CPI-ML) sponsored West Bengal bandh, which evoked partial response.

DIG police (headquarter), Narayan Ghose told reporters that about 300 SUCI activists and over 52 CPI- ML supporters were arrested from different places of the state for obstructing road as well as rail traffic.

The maximum arrest of 80 bandh supporters was made from Nadia district for enforcing the bandh, he said.

Government buses, trams plied normally while the number of private buses and minibuses were less. Shops and markets remained closed in many areas. Stock Exchange and FOREX markets were open, but there was no trading at bullion and jute exchanges and also at major wholesale markets including Burrabazar and Posta.

Eastern Railway sources said attempts were made by the bandh supporters to disrupt train services at some places in Sealdah South, Bongaon, Diamond Harbour and Budge Budge sections in the morning. There was no effect on long distance train movements.

Metro Rail services operated normally, while normal work was on in tea gardens in North Bengal besides Haldia port and dock and industrial belt in Asansol, police said.

SUCI and CPI (ML-Liberation) called the bandh to protest the "misrule" of the CPM led Left Front government and the increase in hospital and educational fees and land revenues and electricity rates.

PTI