Normal life hit by VHP bandh in North Dinajpur

Normal life was today hit in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district by VHP bandh in protest against the detention of hundreds of its supporters.
All shops, business establishments, central and state government offices, schools and colleges remained closed. A few state buses plied with police escort and private buses plied in depleted numbers.
Train service was, however, normal.
District superintendent of police S W Reza said the bandh was peaceful with no report of any untoward incident from anywhere.
Three VHP supporters were arrested during the day for trying to enforce the bandh, he added.
Local VHP leader Bijoy Talukdar, however, said that the number of arrests was six.

Around 500 VHP activists were detained by police yesterday while they were marching towards the venue of 'Dharm Sammelan' here which was called to commemorate 50 years of the organisation's existence.
The meeting was to be addressed by senior leader Pravin Togadia, whose entry into the state was banned by the West Bengal government fearing "communal tension and disruption in public tranquillity."
The government had issued prohibitory orders under the provision of Section 144 of CrPC asking district magistrates to execute it in their respective jurisdictions.