SILAPATHAR, March 7 - A tense situation continued for the second day today at Silapathar in Dhemaji district even as the Army staged a flag march after activists of an organisation ransacked the office of the All Assam Students� Union here demanding Indian citizenship for Hindu Bengalis who came to Assam from Bangladesh after 1971.
The lesser known Nikhil Bharat Bangali Udbastu Samannay Samiti (NBBUSS) that organised a mass rally yesterday at Silajanjati High School playground here demanding amendment of the Citizenship Act 2003 and a halt to harassment of Hindu Bengali in the name of foreigners issue, while later taking out a procession through the town, its activists targeted the AASU office. They also damaged the swahid bedi (martyrs column) on the office premises of the student organisation.
Following this act of vandalism, business establishments, financial institutions, schools and colleges were automatically closed in the district as the situation became tense. The bandh-like situation continued even today with vehicles remaining off the roads. However, the HSLC and Higher Secondary examinations passed off peacefully today.
Meanwhile, the district administration organised a peace meeting at Silapathar police station this afternoon with representatives of political parties, student organisations and the public. Attending the peace meet, Lakhimpur MP Pradan Boruah, Jonai MLA Bhuban Pegu and Dhemaji DC Rashni Apranji Karati appealed to the general public to maintain peace and harmony.
On the other hand, a public meeting was also held on the Silapathar LP School premises today to protest and condemn the vandalism incident. Several speakers from ethnic bodies like TMPK, ATASU, ADSU, AKRSU and other organisations expressed grave concern over the incident.
