SILCHAR, Sept 28 - The 12-hour Barak Bandh on Monday, called by the Cachar district unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the dictatorial behaviour of the Superintendent of Police, Cachar, Rajveer Singh, was total across the town. The BJP leaders claimed that the bandh was spontaneous in Karimganj and Hailakandi districts as well.
The BJP had called the bandh in protest against the preventive detention of BJP MLA Dilip Kumar Paul and four other party leaders on Saturday without any rhyme and reason, which was followed by a lathicharge by the police on party supporters outside the Tarapur police outpost in which at least 50 people were injured.
During the bandh, the roads across the town wore a deserted look. All the Central and State government offices were closed, while business establishments kept their shutters down. Schools and colleges as well as Assam University also remained closed. While flights arrived as per schedule, the passengers had a tough time looking for vehicles.
During the bandh period, as many as 200 picketers were arrested in Cachar, 140 in Karimganj and 127 in Hailakandi. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the BJP Mahila Morcha has planned a protest programme outside the office of the Superintendent of Police, Cachar.
On the other hand, a delegation of the BJP met Cachar Deputy Commissioner S Vishwanathan at his office chamber during the bandh and briefed him about the developments which led to the bandh call. Vishwanathan assured that he would look into the matter and take necessary steps. He urged the BJP delegation to maintain peace and communal harmony so that there is no further breach of peace.
Meanwhile, SN Singh, the Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) who is in Silchar along with DIG Central Range Apurba Jivan Barua to take stock of the law and order situation, told the media that the steps taken by the SP were justified.
