Guwahati: A ‘bandh’ called by Hindu Jagaron Manch and supported by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)in three Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi in Assam.
Protests were made against Congress MLA, Ms Rumi Nath’s controversial second marriage to Jackey Zakir; without divorcing her first husband, on Wednesday sparked communal tension in certain parts of the valley by an large remaned shut for the day.
Violence broke out on Wednesday at some places in south Assam’s Barak Valley with Kallain town in Cachar district being placed under indefinite curfew after members of two communities clashed leaving 22 people injured.
The CRPF was called in and the police used water canons to disperse the clashing groups during a 12-hour Barak Valley bandh following which the indefinite curfew was imposed, police sources said.
Clashes also broke out at Nilambazaar in Karimganj district leaving three persons injured, the sources said. Altogether 330 persons were arrested in Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts, they said.
Police informed that curfew had to be clamped at Kalain area in Cachar district after an unruly mob opposed to the ‘bandh’ tried to open shops and business establishments forcefully while there were reports about sporadic incidents of violence from various parts of the valley.
Meanwhile, State BJP is rushing two of its general secretaries to Barak Valley to take stock of the situation as the issue over the Congress MLA’s controversial second marriage has become potent to trigger communal flare-up in the area.
Assam State Human Rights Commission (ASHRC) has registered a suo moto case in connection with the mob-attack on Rumi Nath and her newly-wed husband Jackey Zakir in a hotel in Karimganj on June 30 last.
The ASHRC stated that under no circumstances people should be allowed to take law into their hands. Action was also demanded against Nath for bigamy as she had married Zakir without divorcing her first husband Rakesh Kumar Singh. The assault on Nath and Zakir has, however, been condemned by many quarters.
The ‘bandh’ was called by the Hindu Jagran Manch and was supported by the BJP, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Milan Manch, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and some other outfits.(With inputs from PTI)
