GUWAHATI, July 22 � Incidents of firing and road blockades were reported today from minority-dominated areas of lower Assam during a state-wide bandh called by minority students to protest the death of four activists in a police firing, reports PTI.
During the 12-hour bandh called by the All Assam Minority Students Union, armed protesters attempted to block a road connecting Sonitpur district with upper Assam and fired at the police at Poruwa Chariali area in Tezpur, police said.
Police picked up some bandh supporters who attempted to close shops at Baruah Chowk and Garowaripatty areas in Tezpur.
The Army was alerted to assist the administration in minority-dominated areas in Sonitpur district if the situation worsened, officials said.
Our Correspondents add:
BARPETA: The call for Assam bandh today in protest against the killing of four persons in firing by the security forces yesterday in Barpeta during an agitational programme evoked partial response in Barpeta district.
Though the shops and business establishments in some minority-dominated areas were closed, there was no effect at all in other areas. The bandh did not have any influence in Barpeta town where all the business establishments were open and State Government offices functioned normally.
However, communication in the district came to a grinding halt as all types of vehicles were off the road. Bandh supporters blocked the road in several places harassing the commuters. One Kamal Deka of village Byaskuchi was attacked by the bandh supportes in Khongra on the Barpeta-Daulashal road when he was going to Guwahati by motorcycle . He was injured in the attack requiring hospitalisation and the motorcycle was also badly damaged.
In another incident a police vehicle was attacked in Goroimari on the same road under Sarthebari Police Station by the bandh supporters . The police had to open fire in the air to disperse the violent mob. Though there is tension in all over the district, there is no any further untoward incident till filing of this report.
Meanwhile in yet another incident, a group of AAMSU activists burnt effigies of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, MP Ismail Hussain, Congress leaders Sukur Khan and Abdul Khalek and SP of Barpeta Debajyoti Mukharjee at Bahari Bazar alleging failure of the government and the administration.
Mangaldoi: The 12-hour Assam bandh called today by AAMSU in protest against the Barpeta police firing evoked partial response in Darrang distrct.
The bandh was total in minority-dominated Dhula, Kharupetia end Dalgaon areas but failed to have impact in other parts of the district including district headquarters Mangaldoi.
Vehicles on the NH-52 were seen plying under police escort. There have been no reports of any untoward incidents till filing of this report.
Srirampur: The 12-hour Assam bandh called by AAMSU in protest against the killing of four AAMSU activists at Barpeta yesterday, passed off peacefully in Gossaigaon subdivision.
However, in a stray incident of violence the bandh supporters set ablaze a motorcycle (WB-70B-0744) at Padmabil under Gossaigaon PS. Gossaigaon police later arrested four bandh supporters.
Kalgachia: Called in protest against the unprovoked killing of four AAMSU supporters by the police at Barpeta the 12-hour Assam bandh was widely observed in and around Kalgachia area.
During the bandh, government offices, financial institutions and shops remained closed. However, there were no reports of any untoward incidents.
On the other hand, effigies of Barpeta DC, SP and AASU adviser were burnt at Balagaon Chariali by the supporters of AAMSU today at 10.30 am.
