The protesters demonstrate in front of Rajdhani Express (Biplab Basak)

Siliguri, March 24: The Jalpaiguri district CPM and the Paschimbanga Pradeshik Krishak Sabha — the party’s farmers’ front — resorted to a 12-hour bandh at Odlabari and detained the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express on different issues.

The shutdown was against the murder of a CPM worker at Gajaldoba. The blockade, on the other hand, was in protest against alleged lackadaisical attitude of the railways to hand over unused land for the Teesta Barrage Project.

On Saturday, local Congress and CPM supporters clashed at Gajaldoba under Odlabari village panchayat, 65km from Jalpaiguri town. Nepal Mondal (40), a CPM worker and brother of Odlabari panchayat pradhan Gopal Mondal, died and nine persons were injured.

The CPM called a 12-hour strike in Odlabari today, demanding the arrest of guilty Congress supporters. An FIR has been lodged where 15 of them have been named, CPM sources said. “A section of Congress workers organised the attack,” said Chanu Dey, the Malbazar zonal committee secretary of the CPM.

The bandh remained peaceful with NH31 and the Dooars rail route kept outside its purview. Schools holding examinations were open but banks, shops and government offices remained closed.

A large police force was deployed to thwart any backlash. Congress leaders, however, alleged that the CPM cadres, along with police, had been raiding their homes. “They are also intimidating our men,” said Santosh Das, a local Congress leader. The party filed a complaint against the CPM today.

The district committee of the Krishak Sabha blocked the rail route to Assam at Jalpaiguri Road station at 12.30pm and detained the Delhi bound Rajdhani Express for about an hour. “Despite repeated requests by the state government, the railways have not handed over unused land necessary for the irrigation canals on the left bank of the Teesta Barrage,” said Mrinal Roy, the Jalpaiguri district secretary of the farmers’ body. “This is hampering extension of irrigation facilities to Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts.”

The blockade was withdrawn after officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway promised to look into the matter at the earliest.