IMPHAL, Oct 27 � With the beginning of the 1,000 hour bandh in Assam�s Karbi Anglong district from this morning, almost all the fuel outlets in and around the State capital here have started to close down due to unavailability of petrol following panic buying by the public this afternoon.
The Joint Action Committee of Autonomous State (JACAS) of Karbi Anglong has called the bandh demanding a separate autonomous State.
Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh told media persons here that the State Government is monitoring the situation. �The government has already apprised the matter to Centre,� he added.
Ibobi�s Nagaland counterpart, TR Zeliang, had also expressed concern about the 1000-hour bandh in Assam. Nagaland and Manipur have been the worst-affected by frequent bandhs imposed by various organisations in Assam�s Karbi Anglong district as all the essential supplies and passenger vehicles of the two States passes through Assam.
In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Nagaland CM Zeliang said, the frequent shut-downs caused severe inconveniences to travellers and affects the supply of essential commodities, causing artificial shortages and unrealistic price rise.
The 1000-hour bandh has been called by the JACAS in protest against the Central Government�s delay in announcing the schedule of the next round of talks since the last one held on November 6, 2013. The JACAS is spearheading the demand for an autonomous State within Assam. The bandh which will last for around 40 days, is expected to affect normal life in Nagaland and Manipur, apart from Karbi Anglong in Assam.
