Cong-sponsored bandh evokes mixed response in Agartala

Opposition Congress sponsored dawn to dusk bandh In the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) areas to protest against proposed property tax evoked mixed response today.
Shutters of shops were down, markets remained closed and vehicles did not ply on the roads.
Banks and financial institutions and schools and colleges remained closed in the AMC areas while attendances in the civil secretariat and government offices were thin.
SP (Police Control), Uttam Bhowmick said one vehicle, engaged by AMC for cleaning of garbage was slightly damaged by the picketers near the Congress Bhavan here.
President of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) and MLA, Birajit Sinha and another MLA, Gopal Roy were arrested along with 15 picketers while picketing near the Civil Secretariat in the morning.

Barring one incident, the bandh remained peaceful so far, Bhowmick said.

Meanwhile, State Urban Development minister, Manik Dey said the new Property tax was proposed by the AMC following directives from the Centre for simplification of tax collection process and it would not affect the people.
"According to the proposal tax would be reduced in most parts of the AMC and there might be some enhancement in some areas", Dey said adding the bandh was 'unethical'.
Nearly five lakh people inhabit in Agartala city.