Congress-sponsored Tripura strike evokes mixed response

The 12-hour shutdown in three districts in northern Tripura that was called by the opposition Congress on Monday evoked mixed response, police said.

The dawn-to-dusk strike was called by the Congress to press for their 20-point charter of demands in Dhalai, Unokoti and North Tripura districts.

The demands include setting up of a railway divisional office in Dharmanagar in northern Tripura, a degree college at Kadamtala and implementation of the central pay commission recommendations for state government employees.

According to police, though some offices, educational institutions remained open, most shops and markets and government offices, educational institutions and banks were closed in the three districts.

State Congress chief Birajit Sinha claimed that the strike was total and successful while the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist said people rejected the shutdown.