Kolkata, Mar 20: Security was beefed up today at the US and British missions here in view of possible protest demonstrations by the Left parties against the American military strike on Iraq. Additional police force have been deployed at the US consulate, American Center as well as the British deputy high commission in the city to avoid any untoward incidents, police sources said.
Left opposition Socialist Unity Center of India (SUCI) today said it would hold a rally and stage protest demonstration in front of the American Center "not only against the military strikes by the US-led coalition force on Iraq, but also against the shameless propaganda to garner support for the heinous crime against humanity."
CPI(M)-led Left parties and organisations have already announced anti-war programmes in the state, while the West Bengal Road Transport Workers' Federation decided to observe 'Chakka Bandh' for 30 minutes at 12 noon tomorrow to protest "imperialist action against Iraq".
"Wheels of public transport vehicles will stop for half an hour that day to register our protest," a spokesman of the federation said.
Left trade unions, including CITU, AITUC and UTUC, condemned the US military strike on Iraq and decided to take out a 'massive anti-war procession' in the city on March 30. Bureau Report