Workers of the Ladlow Jute Mill at Chengail in Howrah district supporting the industrial strike called by the Central Trade unions clashed with the workers who reported for duty today, police sources said.

Workers supporting the strike tried to prevent workers from joining for duty and a clash ensued between them at the gate of the jute mill, sources said adding police went to the spot and dispersed the clashing workers.

The jute mill is open and around 35 per cent of the workers have reported for duty, mill sources said.

The workers, who reported for duty alleged that workers supporting the industrial strike hurled bombs to scare them and prevent them from joining duty.

According to a Kochi report, though BPCL-Kochi Refinery reported 85 attenance amongst its officers and 75 percent attendances among workers, in Cochin Shipyard the staff stregth had been hit due to the strike.

In the shipyard the attendance of officers was 40 per cent and that of workers 25 per cent, shipyard sources said. Most of the contract workers did not turn up at all.

In the Cochin Port, loading and unloading operations are going on from 3 cargo ships. However, there was no container movement from and to the port. Fifty Five per cent attendance has been reported among the port staff.

All courts in the Kerala high court functioned normally.

Vehicles had been arranged in certain routes to pick up high court staff, sources said.

The employee strength in Infopark was also normal.

Private and KSRTC buses and autorickshaws kept off the roads in kochi.

In Kottayam, Vehicles including autorickshaws, taxis and other private carriers were exempted from the strike following the eight-day lent (Ettunombu perunaal) at Manarcaud St. Mary's church. However, Shops and business establishments downed shutters while private and KSRTC buses maintained the services.

The Mahatma Gandhi University has postponed all the examinations conducted today. The new dates will be announced later, an official spokesman said.


Meanwhile, in Nashik, several banks, industrial units, schools, government and semi-government offices were affected by the nationwide strike.

Rallies and morchas were organised by INTUC, Kisan Sabha, Hind Mazdoor and other trade unions on the city golf grounds this morning to protest against price rise and disinvestment of public sector units.

Striking teachers, insurance and employees from the banking sector participated in the morcha.