JORHAT, Dec 14 - Jorhat seems to be partially limping back to normalcy today after five days of normal life were completely paralysed due to massive protests against the CAB (now CAA) even as demonstrations against the Act continued throughout the day with several thousand people from all walks of life assembling in front of the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner�s office at AT Road.
Business establishments opened this morning with people seen rushing to grocery and vegetable markets to buy essential commodities. The markets, especially the grocery stores, later closed in the afternoon fearing trouble as protesters took out a rally from the main entrance gate of Jorhat DC�s office complex across the thoroughfares here. However, the protesters were seen asking the shopkeepers to keep open the shops as they had not given any bandh call but a majority of the market areas did want to take the risk in apprehension of any untoward incident.
Vehicles, mostly two-wheelers were seen on the streets rushing to petrol depots with many opening in the morning under police protection. However, despite rationing, the petrol stocks got exhausted in the fuel outlets early as there were no replenishments from oil companies due to disruption in transportation due to blockades on the National Highway-37 throughout this week.
Moreover, a Jorhat district administration official said that the production of fuel too has been affected due to staging of protest at production units of oil company in Upper Assam districts. The official stated fuel tankers could reach here in a day or two if the situation on highway improves.
There was no shortage of stocks of diesel in the district, the official said. Singers, musicians, artists, lawyers, doctors, litterateurs, teachers and people from social organisations, which included Sankar Sangha, Sadou Asom Lekhika Samaroh, Sadou Asom Karmachari Parishad along with common citizens joined the sit-in demonstration against CAA organised jointly by the Jorhat district unit AASU and AJYCP.
Protesters were seen holding banners, posters and placards opposing CAA and giving slogans against the BJP-led governments at the Centre and the State. Artists put up art works depicting opposition to the Act on screens installed temporarily at the protest venue.
Government offices and banks remained closed as today was a second Saturday.
Night curfew relaxed: The Jorhat district administration while extending the night curfew for the third day tonight in areas under Jorhat Sadar subdivision, which includes Jorhat town and outskirts under Jorhat East, Jorhat West and Teok Revenue Circles, gave relaxation for four hours.
Jorhat Deputy Commissioner Roshni A Korati, who is also the District Magistrate, told The Assam Tribune that the night curfew has been clamped from 10 pm tonight to 6 am tomorrow instead of from 6 pm today in view of the improving law and order situation in the district.
Two more CRPF companies: Stating that there has been no report of any untoward incident in the past 24 hours, Korati said that two more companies of CRPF will be reaching here by tomorrow to assist in maintaining law and order and prevent breach of peace.
It may be mentioned here that on Thursday one company of CRPF was dispatched to Jorhat district. The total number of companies of Central paramilitary forces will be seven in the district with the coming of the two CRPF companies.
The Deputy Commissioner said one column of the Army was assisting the administration in maintaining and law order since Army personnel were requisitioned for deployment on Thursday.
On LPG cylinder stocks, Korati said that there was sufficient stocks of LPG cylinders for the next few days and new stocks were expected to reach soon.
Jorhat Bar Association to approach SC: The Jorhat Bar Association has decided to file a case in the Supreme Court seeking scrapping of CAA. JBA president Rintu Goswami told this newspaper that the advocates� body in an executive meeting held on Friday decided to move the top court of the country urging scrapping of the CAA and process for the same has been initiated.
