In view of the 12-hours strike on Sunday called by Left parties protesting the killing of a CPI (M) Zilla Parishad candidate, the state government has issued a directive to maintain essential services.

Official sources said that all the government offices, PSUs and autonomous bodies and boards will not function normally as Sunday , all preparation would be taken including deployment of additional security forces to maintain essential services including bus services inside Agartala and other parts of the state.

The air and railway services including the services of local and express railway will remain the same and adequate steps will be taken to maintain the services on Sunday like other normal days.

Sources added that some of the essential services related to transportation, railways and electricity are likely to be normal on Sunday.

While, BMS has asked its affiliated motor unions to maintain normal passenger services across the state.

Official sources said that railway service from Agartala and other parts of the country will not have any impact on the  Bandh day as Railway authorities are also taking additional preparations to maintain normal services.

Ruling BJP opposed Bandh and urged the people of Tripura to boycott the divisive calls of Bandh by Left parties by maintaining their daily normal business and other activities.

The state administration told the police authority to take adequate precautions to prevent any attempt to disturb the law and order.

It is learnt that the government has taken adequate steps to ensure that life remains normal in the state and all the markets remain open and the vehicles run as usual.

However, BJP in Tripura strongly protested the Tripura bandh called by Left Front and termed it calls for ‘public suffering’.

It may be recalled here that opposition Left parties called the 12-hours Tripura Bandh on Sunday protesting the killing of a CPI (M) leader and party’s candidate for Zilla Parishad.

CPI(M) Tripura state Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said that the Left parties would not organize any picketing on Sunday in support of the state wide shut down and appealed to the people to spontaneously observe the dawn to dusk strike.