Guwahati: At least three different bands called by as many organizations and a highway blockade affected normal life across Assam since Monday. While creation of separate states was the reason behind two bandhs in western and north-central Assam, the third pertained to assault on a student leader leading to his death in eastern Assam. While a 36-hour bandh called by People’s Joint Action Committee for Bodoland (PJACB) since Monday morning hit normal life in four Bodo-dominated districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska and Udalguri, the All Koch-Rajbangshi Students’ Union (ARASU) called a 24-hour bandh that ended Tuesday morning. It was for creation of a separate state for the Koch-Rajbangshi community of the state.
Another organization named Non-Bodo Protection Committee called a 36-hour highway blockade (NH31) coinciding with the PJACB bandh to protest any move for creation of a separate Bodo state in western Assam. Life in six eastern Assam districts too came to a grinding halt due to a 36-hour bandh called by the All Tai-Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU) to protest the murder of one of its leaders, Debajit Lahon by miscreants in Sivasagar on May 3. The ATASU has demanded action against some employees of a private steel factory allegedly owned by the Assam Assembly Speaker’s son, who had allegedly beaten Lahon following altercation over donation. (NNN)
