Rail services worst affected by trade union strike

New Delhi (PTI): At least 50 people were injured on Wednesday during the day-long strike called by trade unions which badly affected services in rail, road and aviation and various other sectors in many parts of the country, particularly in the three Left-ruled states. 

The strike, called by eight trade unions and supported by 40 employee federations to protest against the government's "anti-people" and "neo-liberal policies", virtually brought life to a halt in Left-ruled West Bengal, Tripura and Kerala. 

In West Bengal's Coochbehar district, around 50 people were injured in clashes between CPI (M) and Trinamool Congress activists at four places when Left supporters attempted to enforce a shutdown, police sources said. 

Police presence in these areas has been stepped up. 

Normal life was also disrupted in several other states like Assam, Manipur, Orissa, Jharkhand and Sikkim. 

In rest of the country, there was little or no impact though functioning in public sector industrial units and at ports was affected. 

Rail services bore the maximum brunt of the strike with over 130 trains being diverted, terminated mid-way or even cancelled due to the stir called by the unions to press their demands which included proper implementation of labour laws, bringing of comprehensive social security bill for unorganised sector, reining in rising prices of essential commodities and petroleum products. 

Aviation sector was also badly affected with scores of flights being cancelled, especially to and fro West Bengal, as Airports Authority of India (AAI) employees joined the strike. 

The government had deployed 250 IAF personnel at major airports across the country to meet the situation arising out of the strike.