NORTH LAKHIMPUR, May 7 � The ten-hour Assam bandh called by the Asom Gana Parishad supported by various organizations, in protest against the passage of the land swap Bill with Bangladesh in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, paralysed normal life in Lakhimpur district today. The bandh took a heavy toll on the commercial and business activities in the district and business establishments and shops remained closed during the day. Banks and other financial institutions also remained shut during the bandh. Public transport system was also badly hit as all long and short distance buses and other vehicle services remained suspended during this period. Schools and colleges and other educational institutions also remained closed during the bandh in North Lakhimpur and in other parts of the Lakhimpur district.
However, in North Lakhimpur, government offices, including the judiciary functioned normally during the bandh period today and private vehicles were seen plying on the streets.
Meanwhile our Tinsukia correspondent adds: The 10-hour bandh call given by the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in protest against the land swap Bill that was passed by the Rajya Sabha yesterday has crippled normal life in Tinsukia district from 6 am to 4 pm today. Almost all shops and establishments remained closed. Financial institution including banks, private and semi-Central government offices, educational institutes remained closed. Except for a few private vehicles, all other vehicles remained off the roads of the district during the bandh period. Meanwhile, police detained about 20 AGP activists for picketing in different places of the district. No other major incident has been reported from any part of the district till filing this report.
Our correspondent from Chabua adds: The Assam bandh call given by the Asom Gana Parishad in protest against the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) with Bangladesh passed off peacefully at Chabua. During the bandh, all private, ASTC and under-ASTC buses were off the roads. The supporters burnt tyres on NH 37 at Chabua. The business establishments remained closed but the tea garden works were not hit.
