Stunned into silence

MALDA, June 13: Malda observed an undeclared bandh today, as the district mourned the murder of Congress leader Biswanath Guho. The shops did not open in English Bazaar today, private bus owners did not run their buses and workers refused to work. Other local private vehicles were also off the roads since morning. Although it was known that the rickshawpullers of the area would not work to protest against the murder of their leader. But that the students of both rural and urban areas would join in the mourning and not attend their classes was totally unexpected. Some primary schools were closed down in the morning following the request of local Congress leaders. However, this undeclared bandh spelled trouble for some. Some had to deal with the scarcity of buses. Hundreds of people were stranded in different bus stops. The government offices of the block level recorded low attendance as the daily commuters and service men could not reach the destination due to lack of private buses and inadequate government vehicles. Attendance in government and semi government offices including banks were also thin in English Bazaar town. The English Bazaar Municipality was shut down completely. However, the INTUC has called a 12-hour bandh in Malda tomorrow to protest against the murder of their district president, also the vice-chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality. n SNS