Shutdown affects normal life in West Bengal (Lead: WB shutdown(lead:W.Bengal shutdown )

Normal life in West Bengal has been hit by the shutdown being observed today by the opposition parties to protest the continuing violence in Nandigram over acquisition of lands for an industrial zone.

Kolkata/Durgapur (West Bengal). Nov 12 : Normal life in West Bengal has been hit by the shutdown being observed today by the opposition parties to protest the continuing violence in Nandigram over acquisition of lands for an industrial zone.

The Trinamool Congress has called an indefinite shutdown, the Congress and the CPI-ML have called for 24-hour shutdown, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is observing a 48-hour shutdown.

The Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) has extended the period of its shutdown call to 48 hours from 24 hours.

According to police, shutdown supporters blocked vehicular traffic and train movement in different parts of the state this morning.

Incidents of rail blockades were also reported from Baruipur, Nabadwip, Bansberia, Chengail, Bauria, Ramrajatala and Bagnan stations.

Shops, business establishments and educational institutions were closed.

Trinamool Congress workers took out a protest rally in support of the shutdown.

"Nandigram is actually been turned in to a pool of blood and (Trinamool Congress chief) Mamta Banerjee has called for shutdown to oppose this. We are demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya," said Madan Mitra, a Trinamool Congress leader.

Meanwhile, residents, who are most affected by the shutdown, requested the political parties to find some other way of staging protest.

"The state is losing indirectly crores of money due to shutdown. It may be for genuine cause but there are other ways to protest too," said Rahul Murarka, a resident.

At some places the shutdown supporters torched the state-run buses, which were running despite the shutdown call.

Police have registered complaint for arson, but say no one was injured in the incident.

"We have registered a complaint against the incident (of torching buses). This is a scattered incident, but we are looking into the matter," said Deep Shankar Rudra, Additional Superintendent of Police, Burdwan.

Over 5, 000 police personnel have been deployed at metro stations, bus and truck terminals and other sensitive areas.

The Centre has already sent a battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) (1000 personnel) in the wake of the deteriorating law and order situation.

This is the second shutdown after the state was paralysed by Trinamool Congress' 'halt Bengal' on October 31.

On Sunday, the Forward Bloc, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) squarely blamed the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) for the continuing violence and killings in Nandigram.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee sat on an indefinite dharna demanding complete restoration of peace in Nandigram.

Social activist Medha Patkar on the same day met Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi at the Raj Bhavan and reportedly apprised the Governor of the present situation in Nandigram.

On Saturday, Mamata, who is backing the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) - an anti-land acquisition front, resigned as Member of Parliament.

ANI