AGARTALA, July 13 � Normal life was paralysed in Tripura following a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by ruling Left Front and opposition Congress on separate issues.
Shops and markets were closed and vehicles did not ply while schools, colleges and other educational institutions were closed, officials said, adding that banks and other financial institutions were shut as well. Trains were also cancelled, they said.
No attendance was registered in the State Secretariat or in any other government and public undertaking office, they said.
Congress called the bandh to protest police �atrocities� on the party�s workers on July 10 when they were trying to stop examinees of the Common Entrance Test (CET) of Tripura Medical College (TMC) saying that it was illegal and detrimental to the interests of the students of the State.
At least 83 people, including 11 journalists, were injured when the police and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) lathicharged to disperse the Congress workers.
Congress organised a silent rally to protest against the police action on July 11 but the participants suddenly turned violent and attacked policemen, leaving 11 of them injured, and damaged vehicles. The Left Front called the bandh on the same day to protest the �hooliganism� of Congress workers.
TPCC spokesman Ratan Chakraborty said his party would soon submit a memorandum to Governor Dr D Y Patil demanding the dismissal of the Left Front Government on the grounds that the law and order machinery had collapsed.
CPI(M) Secretary Bijan Dhar alleged that Congress had hatched a conspiracy to create law and order problems in the State and capture power through the back door. � PTI
