Panighatta partially opened after TMC held a peace rally

Prashant Acharya, EOI, PANIGHATTA, 4 Sep 2017: TMC’s effort to withdraw strike in Panighatta under Mirik block since Sunday morning was partially successful as maximum shops were open and a public bus including a North Bengal Transport run bus plied with police escort.

Uttar Banga Kshetriya Gramin Bank located at Panighatta was opened and Chenga-Panighatta gram panchayat office located at Chenga was also functioned today.

On Sunday afternoon TMC hill convenor Rajen Mukhia had called a meeting at his resident and requested them to take a peace rally for withdrawing strike. A peace rally was taken out in the evening carrying candles at the market area.

Today maximum shops were opened but only few people came out on streets. A private bus including a state bus plied between Tirhanah Tea Garden to Panighatta (approx 6 kilometers). Few autos also carried passengers although the numbers of passengers were less.

A large police force was deployed in the area and two police vehicles were engaged in escorting buses.

Mukhia said, “People are fed up with the continuous strike as no result has come out with it. Movement should be in democratic form but not to harass common people. Panighatta was totally open today after the people supported us to withdraw strike.” He also informed that initially two buses will ply to carry passengers from Tirhanah to Panighatta.

Meanwhile Morcha supporters informed that huge police and CRPF personnel were deployed since Sunday so people feared of arrest to come out to protest. Shop owners were forced to open shops but people did not want to withdraw strike.