JORHAT, Dec 20 - Normal life was partially affected across Golaghat district following a 12-hour bandh called by Chah Sramik Mukti Sangram Samiti and Chatra Mukti Sangram Samiti, both wings of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, from 5 am today.
The two student unions had given the bandh call to protest against Tuesday�s incident of police caning their activists in front of the Golaghat Deputy Commissioner�s office. The student activists were protesting against the alleged preferential treatment being given to Bogidhola Tea Estate owners Sudhir Roy and his brother, Samir Roy, in the Golaghat District Jail.
On December 13, the Roy brothers had allegedly opened fire on garden workers who were protesting against non-payment of bonus.
According to the police, the protesters had assembled without obtaining necessary permission from the district administration as prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC was in force. As the protesters did not disperse from the place after the police asked them to do so, they (protesters) were caned and a case was registered at the police station against them under Section 294 (obscene acts and songs) and Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC.
District administration sources said the bandh call failed to evoke any major response. According to other sources, the bandh had some impact in some urban places and the adjoining areas.
Vehicular traffic from Upper to Lower Assam and also to neighbouring Nagaland and Manipur was disrupted as protesters came out on the National Highways 37 and 39 and burnt tyres in the morning.
Business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in some areas and attendance in government offices in some places was thin.
Golaghat Additional SP (Headquarters) Dhruba Bora said that no untoward incident has been reported. He said a few picketers were detained by the police in the morning.
