TUFANGANJ

12-hour CPM sponsored bandh in Tufanganj

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 22: The Left Front sponsored 12-hour bandh in Tufanganj sub-division passed off almost peacefully today. It received a mixed response except in Tufanganj town and Deocharai market where the bandh was almost total. A long queue of vehicles especially lorries were found along the NH-31 on both sides - Assam and West Bengal.

 

There was heavy deployment of police forces at different areas of the sub-division but no fresh untoward incident was reported from anywhere. CPI-M thanked the people for making the bandh successful but Trinamul Congress claimed that the bandh failed to exert influence in many areas.

 

District Left Front convenor and also the district CPI-M secretary Mr Chandi Pal claimed that the bandh was a grand success. The people supported the bandh against the unruliness of the Trinamul Congress and the attack on one of its MLAs, Md Tamser Ali.

 

Mr Pal said they drew the attention of the chief minister over the deteriorating law and order situation in Cooch Behar district. Here, the number of police personnel is not sufficient. Soon after the panchayat elections the Trinamul Congress have unleashed a reign of terror and disorder in this district. The district needs more police force to combat their evil designs.

 

The CPI-M leader alleged that the Trinamul Congress is supporting the 'Greater Cooch Behar' movement that is going to be organised here in Darjeeling style. Strict administrative measure is needed to combat the secessionist plans, he opined.

 

On the otherhand, District Trinamul Congress vice-president Mr Niranjan Dutta claimed that the bandh failed to evoke any response at many places in Tufanganj like Rampur, Falimari, Dhalpal, Andaran Fulbari and Balabhut. He condemned the police for its excesses in the name of arresting wanted accused persons.

 

Meanwhile, the leader of the Opposition, Mr Partha Chatterjee and chief whip Mr Ashok Deb visited trouble-torn Deocharai in Tufanganj last night. They also visited the injured Trinamul supporters at MJN hospital. They are to submit a report to the party chief Miss Mamata Banerjee. []