Lower Assam paralysed by calls for separate states

Life was hit in lower Assam for the second day on Tuesday in three bandhs called to press for Bodoland and Kamtapur, while Karbi Anglong, which had erupted over the statehood demand on the lines of Telangana, was slowly limping back to normal.

A 48-hour bandh called by All Bodo Students' Union, a 1,500-hour bandh by United Peoples' Democratic Forum and a 31-hour bandh by All Koch Rajbongshi Students' Union brought life to a standstill in lower Assam districts of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Baksa, Dhubri and Goalpara, official sources said.

UPDF has, however, suspended its 1500 hour strike from Tuesday, while AKRSU reduced the duration of its bandh from 36 to 31 hours and ABSU from 60 to 48 hours, in view of the coming Id-ul-Fitr.

Bandh supporters blocked NH 31 at several places, affecting movement of vehicular traffic in the region but no violence has been reported so far.

Train services were, however, not affected so far today with all trains originating from Guwahati or entering Assam running as per schedule. But trains originating from Dibrugarh, including Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express, Kamrup Express, Saraighat Express and Brahmaputra Mail among others were running late due to the prevailing situation in Karbi Anglong.

A NF Railway spokesman told PTI that no trains have been cancelled or rescheduled so far today.

All educational institutions, markets and business establishments remained closed in the bandh-affected districts.

In Karbi Anglong, the situation was slowly returning to normal with the curfew relaxed from 8 am to 5 pm, as no incidents of violence were reported since last evening, official sources said.

Image: Bodo Territorial Autonomous District ' Photograph Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons