BARPETA, Jan 8 - The 11-hour Assam bandh called by AASU protesting the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was total and peaceful in Barpeta district. Offices, business establishments, banks and insurance companies and educational institutions remained closed during the bandh period. Roads wore a deserted look as commercial vehicles were totally off the roads and movement of private vehicle was also scanty.
The bandh was observed totally in every nook and corner of the district including at Barpetaroad, Sorbhog , Howli, Bhabanipur, Pathshala, Bahari, Kayakuchi, Mandia and Sarthebari.
Members of AASU staged demonstrations in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner to register their protest against the bill and to deter the employees of the office to enter it. Later they were picked up by the police. Bandh supporters burnt tyres on Barpeta-Howli road and Barpeta-Baghbar road to register their protest.
CPI(M) and several other trade unions also blocked a number roads as part of the nationwide strike called by them in protest against the anti-labour and anti-farmer activities of the Central government.
Meanwhile, several organisations including the AGP, AASU and KMSS protested the bill yesterday also. They burnt the effigies of the Chief Minister and Prime Minister. KMSS members immersed the idols of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister in Beki river.
