By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 17: The strike staged by thousands of activists of various organizations at Dispur Last Gate in support of their various demands entered its second day today, just as the second day of the Assembly session took off.

 Around 18 members of the Assam Special Police Officer Welfare Association, who were staging a hunger strike, were admitted to the Guahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) after they fell sick.

 Meanwhile, the situation at Dispur Last Gate remained tense as thousands of activists, armed with placards, shouted slogans against the government and its policies.

The protesting organizations included, Assam Special Police Officer Welfare Association, All Assam Shramik Krishak Kalyan Parishad, Nikhil Rabha Students’ Union along with ARSU, ARWC and SSDU, Mech Autonomous Demand Committee and the Aboro (Non-Bodo) Suraksha Samiti.

 All the protesting organizations had their separate set of demands. While the Mech Autonomous Demand Committee asked for assistance for their overall socio-economic and socio-cultural uplift, the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council under the banner of Nikhil Rabha Students’ Union demanded sixth schedule status and appointment of the 300 Rabha teachers in the various primary schools of the State. They further demanded a solution to the Assam, Meghalaya border issue as well as the operation against the GNLA militants. They demanded the Government to take steps to stop the conspiracy of dividing Assam.  The body also demanded compensation to the families of the three killed in militant attack, Kameswar Rabha, Sarit Rabha and Kanistha Rabha. This demand has been supported by organizations like ARSU, ARWC and SSDU.

On the other hand, activists of the All Assam Shramik Krishak Kalyan Parishad demanded President’s rule in Assam, declaration of the flood and erosion problem in the State as a national problem and Rs 10,000 compensation to each flood-affected farmer.  The Special police officers (SPOs), who have been staging a hunger strike for two days now, under the banner of the Assam Special Police Officer Welfare Association demanded re-employment of the officers.