AASU blocks NH 37 in Jorhat, demands repair of highway

From a Correspondent

Jorhat, May 27: Hundreds of activists of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Jorhat district unit blocked the NH 37 at Pulibor in Jorhat district in protest against the government’s failure to repair the tiol highway, on Friday. They also demanded the government to take steps within one week in the matter and threatened to take up rigorous agitation unless their demands were fulfilled.

The student’s body blocked the busy highway for about an hour on Friday. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the highway causing traffic chaos in the area. The activists also shouted slogans against the government and the NHAI for their failures to take required steps for renovation of the highway. Later, they withdrew the protest when the engaged contractor of NHAI gave them written assurance to fulfill their demands at the earliest.

AASU central executive member Jul Khound said, “In spite of repeated demands to the government as well as the authorities of NHAI to take immediate measures for renovation of highway, they have turned a blind eye to it, as a result the number of road accidents on the highway is rising and many people have died in road accidents in the past few months.”

He added, “We have sent a memorandum to the new Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbanda Sonowal, seeking his immediate intervention into the matter. We have also issued ultimatum to the government and the NHAI to take effective measures at the earliest.”