The opposition Congress sponsored dawn-to-dusk bandh in Tripura to protest against attack on the activists and leaders of National Student Union of India (NSUI) was marked by sporadic incidences of violence which left 38 supporters of both CPI(M) and Congress injured.
Normal life was paralysed as schools, colleges and all educational institutions remained closed, shutters of shops rolled down, banks not functioning, attendance almost nil at government office and secretariat and vehicles staying off the roads, reports said.
Police said two ‘passenger’ vehicles - one jeep and a pick-up van - were damaged by the picketers at Chandrapur motor stand near Agartala when the vehicles came on the roads.
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They also damaged a bus, carrying police personnel, at Colonel Chowmuhani here when it was carrying them to Police Training College (PTC) at Narsingarh, about 10 k.m from here.
The picketers damaged a government vehicle in which Additional District Magistrate was moving.
Bandh picketers even did not allow Chief Secretary, S K Panda to enter into the Civil Secretariat, police said.
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Meanwhile, 18 ruling CPI(M) activists and 13 opposition Congress members were injured when two groups clashed at Shantirbazar in South Tripura district, about 65 km from here.
In a similar incident five CPI (M) activists and two Congress activists were injured at Debdaru in the same district.
Police said more than 1,100 bandh picketers were arrested and later freed.
At least six activists of NSUI, including its President Vicky Prasad were injured at Maharaja Bir Bikram College here on Saturday when the activists of SFI allegedly attacked them.
Six injured activists were admitted to Gobinda Ballav Pant hospital here and the doctor referred Mr. Prasad to Kolkata as his injury was critical.