Diphu (Assam): Militant outfit Karbi Peoples’ Liberation Tigers (KPLT) called off its three-day indefinite bandh, that began Tuesday, at the Karbi Anglong district under Autonomous District (ST) constituency thus allowing Saturday’s scheduled second phase polling there.
The outfit decided to call off the bandh and allow people to cast their votes as they wanted a representative from the constituency to raise their demand for a separate autonomous state in Parliament, KPLT general secretary Ranamlijang said in a statement. KPLT had called a three-day bandh, which began on April 8, in demand of a separate autonomous tribal state under Article 244(A) of the constitution. It also appealed to the people to cast their vote and elect a representative who would raise their demand of statehood in the Parliament, Ranamlijang said.
Tight security has been imposed across the constituency, comprising the two hill districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, with 17 companies of security forces deployed and helicopter surveillance conducted since Wednesday to monitor movement of militants. Autonomous District(ST) goes to polls on Saturday in the second phase along with the two constituencies of Barak Valley — Karimganj(SC), comprising the districts of Karimmganj and Hailakandi, and Silchar. (PTI)
