Trade strike largely ineffective in Bengal on second day

Kolkata, Jan 9 (IANS) The central trade unions' 48-hour nationwide strike remained largely ineffective across West Bengal on its second day on Wednesday barring a few sporadic incidents of vandalism. Train services were briefly affected on the Sealdah-Lakshmikantapur Namkhana and Diamond Harbour sections of Eastern Railway as strike supporters threw banana leaves on overhead wires. A few trains, including the Howrah-Puri Satabdi Express, however, had to be cancelled, an official said. Train services were also halted on the Sealdah-Habra line after a number of crude bombs were found along the railway track near North 24 Pargana district's Habra area. The protestors allegedly ransacked a public bus in Cooch Behar's Dinhata area. Another bus was vandalised in Howrah district's Dasnagar where two schoolchildren sustained minor injuries. On Tuesday, few Left activists, including CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty, were detained while picketing in south Kolkata's Jadavpur. He was later released. Left activists and members of the trade unions staged a rally in north Kolkata's Shyambazar. Another group of protesters clashed with the police near Howrah's Bally.