The normal life in Baleswar town was disrupted on Saturday as the Trade Union Associations’ Coordination Committee (TUACC), an umbrella body of trade unions, called a bandh protesting against the deteriorating law and order situation of the town.
The AITUC, the CITU and the INTUC gave the call for the bandh which the Congress unit of the district supported.
The agitators expressed grave concern over the recent spurt of crimes in the town, mainly incidents of firing and hacking to death as fallout of gang rivalry. They demanded transfer of the district Superintendent of Police. They alleged that the rule of law has collapsed due to ineffective management of the district police chief.
The bandh’s effect was particularly noticeable as the Government offices, banks and Defence establishments were closed since it was the second Saturday of the month.
The law courts, however, couldn’t function although it was a working day for them due to a scheduled Lok Adalat.
The passenger buses while adopted a diversion route for their movement, trucks and other four-wheelers were off the roads.
The train services were, however, unaffected as they were spared by the agitators.
While the shops and other business establishments downed their shutters, the ATM counters were seen closed. The educational institutions too were closed.
No untoward incidents were reported during the bandh.