Siliguri virtually unaffected by bandh against GTA deal

The 12-hour bandh declared on Friday across North Bengal by the Rashtriya Shiv Sena and ‘Bangla Bhasha O Bangla Bachao’ committee was a partial success. The shutdown was in protest of the GTA deal, which the two outfits called in the past two years too. 

Most shops in Siliguri’s Hill Cart Road, Bidhan Road and Sevoke Road remained closed, but transportation remained unaffected throughout the day. Private vehicles were seen increasing as the day progressed, while government offices functioned normally.

Further, picketers weren’t found on the streets today even as there was a strong police presence in town throughout the day.
According to police sources, no incident of violence or arrest has been reported.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Shiv Sena president Dasarath Karmakar claimed the bandh a success while demanding the scrapping of the GTA deal and deporting Nepali citizens back to that country. - EOI