Strikers ransack insurance company in Siliguri

Strikers beat up employees and ransacked the office of a private insurance company during the 24-hour nation-wide strike.

Strikers on Thursday beat up employees and ransacked the office of a private insurance company here during the 24-hour nation-wide strike called by Left- affiliated unions today as life was hit in north Bengal.

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Police said trouble began when strikers spotted an office of ICICI Prudential functioning in Siliguri. They stormed in, beat up employees and damaged computers and other equipment.

A company official said they had suffered "huge loss".

Meanwhile, the Railways have opened a catering service and a medical centre at New Jalpaiguri Railway station near here where two thousand passengers were stranded, Railway spokesman Tarak Nath Bhattacharya said.

The authorities have opened an emergency control room at the station to cope with the stranded passengers. They have also made arrangements for adequate drinking water and cleaning opertions at the station.

The strike affected normal life in North Bengal except in three subdivisions of Darjeeling district — Kurseong, Kalimpong and Darjeeling — which are GNLF strongholds.

Work was reported in at least 40 per cent of tea gardens in Terai region which are controlled by the INTUC.