Barak bandh evokes total response

From a correspondent

Silchar, July 10: The 12 hour dawn to dusk Barak Valley bandh called by garikatwa Suraksha Sangram Committee and supported by other organizations was a total success today. The bandh evoked spontaneous and wide support from all sections of people, both urban and rural areas. Hundreds of picketers were arrested from different parts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi for blocking entry to the administrative headquarters and the Central and State establishments.

Around 150 squatters were picked up by a storm posse of police from before the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar. The DC and the entire staff of his establishment did not turn up. According to information from Hailakandi district, the Deputy Commissioner, Barun Bhuiya could enter the office, but no staff could make his presence felt due to strong barricade by bandh activists and supporters.

Another information from the border town of Karimganj also gives the same picture. Picketers and squatters in large number were arrested from before the office of the Deputy Commissioner. However, DC Sanjiv Gohain could mage to reach his office as the blockade was cleared by the security forces. According to a senior citizen, the police and CRPF roughed up the picketers, not sparing the elderly persons.

All sorts of vehicular traffic were off the roads and highways. As the BG track to Lumding was yet to become functiol, the inter valley movement of trains was totally paralyzed. The lone passenger train bound for Agartala from Karimganj could not move due to blockade by bandh supporters. Apart from private and public offices remained closed, schools and colleges were also deserted. All banking institutions, commercial and business shops as well as trade centres downed their shutters. Even air services from Kumbhirgram Airport were disrupted.

It is to be recollected that the bandh was called to stop harassment of genuine Indian citizens in the me of NRC update. The organizations called the bandh in support of their 5 point charter of demands. This includes update process of NRC under Indian Citizenship Act of 2003 and its clause 4, solving the ‘D’ voters issue before the update process is taken up, a full fledged Bill be introduced in the Parliament to grant citizenship to the displaced people from Bangladesh, erstwhile East Pakistan, any valid document be accepted and those coming from other states of the country and settled in Assam, their mes are to be included in the NRC. Shshanka Sekhar Paul, Pradip Kumar Deb, Arungshu Bhattacharjee, Prabhash Chandra Sarakar, Deepak Sengupta were among those present in the agitation.