Agitated three wheeler drivers set three buses ablaze in Kolkata.

Byline: ANI

Kolkata, Jan 3 (ANI): Agitated three-wheeler drivers, protesting against a court ban on ageing public transport vehicles in the city, set three buses on fire in Kolkata on Saturday.

"Three incidents of arson have taken place on three buses. In first case, one bus was slightly damage. But in other two cases, the buses have been damaged. These are the only three incidents that we have had so far. I hope that we'll be able to manage it now. I wont be able to tell you categorically there have been mischief mongers, we are trying to identify them," said Shivaji Ghosh, Kolkata's Additional Commissioner of Police.

Eyewitness said that about four to five people came down from the bus and set the vehicle on fire.

"A bus was coming from the flyover. About four to five people came down from the bus and set the vehicle on fire. My shop is nearby only and I saw everything in front of me," said Mohammad Anaj, a resident.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had earlier been leading a 5,000 member strong crowd to protest government action against auto drivers and owners.

After squatting overnight near Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's residence demanding the release of her party supporters, Banerjee called off her dharna early this morning.

The drivers are protesting the order that was to be implemented latest by December 31, 2008.

Estimates put the affected number of vehicles to be affected by the implementation of the order at around 1, 00, 000. (ANI)

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