A 12-hour Bengal bandh called by the BJP to protest the hike in power tariff turned violent on Monday with supporters setting afire buses and clashing with police which used batons to quell them. Train and road services were hit by the bandh.
Traffic movement was disrupted as a private bus was torched on the busy VIP Road connecting the Kolkata airport, police said, adding bandh supporters put up a blockade on that road.
Three other private vehicles were also damaged in the area following which police baton-charged the protesters, they said.
In neighbouring North 24 Parganas, roads have been blocked at Kharda area, while the Gangasagar Express was also held up at Agarpara station.
In Howrah district, 12 city-bound buses were set afire allegedly by bandh supporters, police said. Train services were also disrupted at Howrah and Sealdah station as protesters squatted on tracks and threw banana plantation on the overhead section in the districts.
All educational institutions and business establishments remained open in the city. Several express and passenger trains were held up at various places in the districts.
Howrah-Ranchi Shatabdi Express, Ganadevta Express and Kanchenjunga Express were stopped by bandh supporters.
At the NSC Bose International Airport, flight operations were normal but passengers faced inconvenience as prepaid taxis were not available.
At the Howrah Bridge, protesters clashed with police as they tried to stop vehicles by deflating their tyres .PTI
