Friday’s dawn-to-dusk North Bengal bandh called by the BJP passed off amid stray violence and mixed response in the eight districts of the region.

While public transport plied near normally private transport was partially affected at areas like Dhupguri, Dinhata areas of Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar districts traffic was almost out of road in large parts of Raiganj and Kaliaganj in North Dinajpur districts.

Trains ran late as bandh supporters squatted on the tracks at various stations of North East Frontier Railways. At Jalpaiguri the bandh evoked mixed response with markets and other business establishments remaining partially closed.  Schools and colleges remained open with thinner attendance while courts and government offices including the universities of North Bengal, Gaur Banga etc worked near normally. The bandh supporters allegedly attacked government buses plying on the roads. A number of buses were damaged and a couple of drivers received injuries when brickbats were thrown at the running vehicles, police said.

Violence erupted at various points as the BJP and TMC cadres confronted each other at Jalpaiguri, Siliguri, Dinhata and other areas. Bombs were found near the BJP party office at Dinhata, sources said adding bandh had little response in Darjeeling and Malda districts where shops, markets opened normally. The Bagdogra Airport at Siliguri functioned normally. “The situation is under control and life is normal … We will take strong action against people who will make any attempt to disturb the peace,” a senior police officer said.