Sunday, November 20 2005 18:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: The arrest of Congress MP Adhir Chowdhury drew large-scale protests in several districts of West Bengal today (Nov 20, 2005) as Congress supporters disrupted train services in Eastern Railway's Howrah and Sealdah divisions and set fire to a public transport bus in the metropolis, besides setting up road blocks.

The agitated supporters disrupted train services for sometime in the morning on the Katwa-Azimganj section, Burdwan and several other places in Eastern Railway's Howrah and Sealdah divisions and also blocked railway tracks at Naihati, Ranaghat, Krishnagar Lalgola, Bongaon and in Sealdah South section, railway sources said here.

Major obstructions were made at Bazar Sau, Azimganj,Malihati Talitpur Halt and Niyalishpara Halt stations in Howrah division.

In Sealdah division, Congress supporters sat on tracks at 17 stations including Jiyaganj, Kashimbazar, Berhampore Court, Pyradanga, Simurali, Kalyani Simanta Lalgola, Ballygunj and Subhasgram stations.

Normal train services have, however, resumed in all the places, the sources said.

Road blocks were also put up at different places in the state, including the metropolis, by Congress activists in protest against the arrest of Chowdhury on a twin-murder charge.

The agitators also damaged and set fire to a Calcutta State Transport Corporation bus on Chittaranjan Avenue.

The road blocks did not last long, except in Murshidabad district, which is Chowdhury's stronghold, and were removed after some persuasion by the police.

Twenty persons were arrested from Gariahat in the southern part of Kolkata and Girish Park in the northern part for putting up roadblocks, police sources said.

Reports from Burdwan district said that trains, including the down Rajdhani Express, down Coalfield Express and Mayurakshi fast passenger were stopped at Burdwan station for about half an hour in the morning.

District Congress workers also put up road blocks on GT Road at Burdwan, which was withdrawn after the police intervened.

In Howrah district several roadblocks, lasting for several hours were put up including on arterial NH6. About 500 Congressmen, including party chief whip Asit Mitra and district Congress general secretary, were arrested.

At Birbhum, where a 12-hour bandh was observed, four Congressmen were detained by the police for putting up road blocks. In Nadia district a 24-hour bandh was being observed to protest against the Congress MP's arrest.

Processions were taken out by party men in the district headquarter town of Suri, besides road and rail blockades.

Private bus services were totally suspended in the district.