Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Violence mars Barak Valley bandh

By CORRESPONDENT

HAILAKANDI, July 4 � Normal life was totally paralysed today due to a 12-hour bandh called by Hindu Jagaran Mancha, BJP and other members of Sangh Parivar in Hailakandi, Cachar and Karimganj districts of Barak Valley. The bandh was called by these organisations in support of their demand for suspension of Barkhola MLA Rumi Nath and action against her alleged �illegal activities�.

The bandh passed off peacefully in Hailakandi district. No untoward incident has so far been reported form any part of Hailakandi district. All the business establishments, offices and other institutions remained closed. The vehicular traffic also kept off the roads.

Altogether 250 picketers were arrested during the bandh hours from the different parts of Barak Valley.

Curfew was clamped in entire Katigorah circle of Cachar district to control the violent situation. Violence broke out in Katigorah in the morning when the picketers tried to close some shops on Digabor road on NH-44. More than one thousand people entered the Katigorah area and started beating people and damaging properties. During the clash, ateast 18 people including 5 members of BJP were injured. All of them were admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment while six of them were later shifted to Silchar Medical College and Hospital and their condition is reported to be critical. Eight motorcycles were also damaged during the clash.

Earlier, police had to lathicharge and fire tear gas shells to disperse the violent mob. Senior police and civil officials rushed to the spot immediately and deployed paramilitary forces. The administration sources informed that the situation in Katigorah turned peaceful after the imposition of curfew. No person was arrested in connection with the clash till filing of this report. According to sources, the number of injured persons including police personnel are more than the government�s version of 18.

In another incident, two persons were seriously injured during clashes with the picketers and local people in Nilambazar area of Karimganj district. According to reports received here, more than two thousand violent people tried the stop the activities of picketers forcefully on NH-44 in Nilambazar area in the morning leading to clashes between the groups. The Army and paramilitary forces were also deployed in the area immediately to control the situation.

Next Story