GUWAHATI: The 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh called by 44 organisations led by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS), against the Centre’s move to enact Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 has paralysed life in Assam Valley notwithstanding strict instructions issued by the state government to business communities and government employees to defy the bandh call.
All the business establishments, private sector offices and education institutions in the state capital city and other parts of the state remained closed while public transport system was brought to a grinding halt with both long distance buses and city buses remaining off the road.
There was, however, skeletal presence of staff in government offices in the city especially in the state secretariat during the bandh hours. The state government on the eve of the bandh warned that government employees failing to turn up during the bandh period would face punitive action while trade licenses of business establishments would be cancelled if they comply with the bandh call.
The bandh which has been called against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, has been supported by opposition Congress party in Assam too.
Meanwhile, police have arrested a large number of bandh enforcers all over the state while situation has by and large remained peaceful so far in the state.
The bandh, however, is not having any impact in Bengali-speaking Barak Valley region of Assam where life has remained normal barring an isolated incident where bandh enforcers tried to disrupt train services between Bhairabi (Mizoram) and Silchar (Assam) at Lala in Hailakandi district. Police and security forces dispersed the bandh supporters from the railway track.