Bandh cripples normal life in Margherita

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

MARGHERITA, Sept 9: The 24-hour Margherita subdivision bandh called by Margherita Jourlist’s Association and AJYCP’s Margherita regiol committee crippled normal life today. Business establishment, banks and educatiol institutes remained closed during the bandh. Vehicles were also off the roads. The bandh was called in protest against the failure of the administration to arrest the coal smugglers involved in the attack of scribes in Margherita on Wednesday. The coal smugglers allegedly attacked two scribes at Tirap Colliery under Margherita subdivision when they went to cover news related to coal smuggling. The two jourlists—Manoj Dutta and Prashanto Chetia— were injured in the attack.

Activists of Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam, All Tai Ahom Students’ Union, Asom Bodo Kachari Yuba Chatra Parishad and Assam Bihari garik Bikash Manch, Margherita regiol committee burnt tyres on NH 38 at Ledo and Margherita and shouted various slogans against Margherita MLA Bhaskar Sharma and Margherita administration. Margherita Jourlist’s Association president Ram Prasad Ambedkar and general secretary Ra Jyoti Neog have condemned the incident and demanded arrest of the culprits involved in the attack of the scribes.