KOLKATA: Normal life remained virtually unaffected in West Bengal Tuesday despite a dawn-to-dusk shutdown called by the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI), an ally of opposition Congress-Trinamool Congress combine in the state. It is protesting on various issues including rises in the prices of essential commodities.
Police said the 12-hour shutdown from 6 a.m. evoked "practically no response", and the situation was peaceful in state capital Kolkata and the districts.
The Trinamool Congress and Congress did not support the shutdown call.
"There were some sporadic incidents in some parts of Kolkata's neighbouring Hooghly district. The train service was partially disrupted at Rishra and Bansberia station in Hooghly, and at Ramrajatala in Howrah district as the shutdown supporters squatted on the railway tracks," a police officer said.
They, however, dispersed after some time.
The public transport system on city streets and flight movements at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport remained normal since Tuesday morning.
SUCI activists took out a protest rally near Hazra crossing in south Kolkata with around 40 supporters.