DIBRUGARH, Oct 19 - The 36-hour Assam bandh called by Soy Janagusti Aikya Mancha in support of their demand for Scheduled Tribe status today crippled normal life in the city here and its surroundings.
All business establishments, few financial institutions and long distance commercial transport vehicles were affected. Educational institutions however, remained unaffected. Barring a stray incident of stone pelting at a vehicle near Mohanbari and burning of tyres in few places, the bandh overall was peaceful.
Kokrajhar: The 36-hour Assam bandh affected normal life in entire Kokrajhar district today.
All shops and business establishments, financial institutions remained closed today. Vehicles were also off the road. No major untoward incident has been reported till the filing of this report.
JORHAT: The 36-hour bandh called by AATASU, AATTSA and four other organisations demanding tribal status today received mixed response here.
Though the bus services between Jorhat and other districts remained stopped during the bandh several passengers could move freely inside the city by four-wheelers and bikes. Several shops were opened at Tarajan, Soladhara Tiniali, Jail Road and many areas in the city though the business establishments beside Gar Ali, Na-Ali, Titabor, Mariyani, Teok and some other neighbouring urban locations remained closed for the day.
Police detained 26 supporters of bandh in the city and another at Teok to prevent any kind of damage to public property and vehicles as the bandh-supporters burnt tyres on the public roads.
�No incident of damage or injury has been reported from any location of the district,� said Jorhat Superintendent of Police Prasanta Kumar Bhuyan.
Asked whether the joint forum of the six organisations decided to withdraw bandh for the next 24 hours AATASU vice president Basanta Gogoi said that they are yet to take any decision for it as the State Government did not assure them of taking initiatives to give them tribal status.
NORTH LAKHIMPUR: The 36-hour Assam bandh called paralysed normal life across Lakhimpur district today. The bandh, here supported by All Tai Ahom Students Union and All Assam Chutia Students Union evoked strong response as shops and business establishments remained closed during the day.
The bandh also affected the schools and other academic institutions across the district. Vehicular traffic was off the road as public buses and other transport services were not operating today in Lakhimpur district. In North Lakhimpur the State Government offices remained open with near normal attendance where as the functions of the judiciary also went on normally. Banks and other financial institutions and refueling stations also remained closed during the bandh period today.
In the morning, bandh supporters burnt tyres to block the movement of vehicles in the CD Road area of North Lakhimpur town. A vehicle was damaged in Hatilung area of North Lakhimpur town by bandh supporters in which the driver was physically assaulted. Meanwhile, police has arrested a bandh supporter Jayanta Saikia, a member of the All Assam Chutia Students Union from North Lakhimpur
SIVASAGAR: The 36-hour bandh was near total in Sivasagar. It paralysed all government functions and ONGC operations. However, the bandh passed of peacefully.
Chabua: The 36 hours Assam bandh passed off peacefully today at Chabua. Tyres were seen burning at the 37-NH during the bandh hours. All vehicles remained off the road. The works at the tea gardens of the area went on as usual.
