Poor response to AAMSU bandh in Goalpara

From a Correspondent

Goalpara, September 20: In a significant development, the Assam bandh call given by the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) in protest to the death of two persons in an eviction drive carried out in greater Kaziranga, failed to impact the Goalpara district.

During the bandh period, life went on as usual and both long and short distance buses, tempos, other private vehicles were seen moving in a normal routine. The government offices and educatiol institutions remained open. No information of any untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the district.

However, the police forces were kept on alert to counter probable eruption of any violence. Except in Lakhipur, no protesters were seen in the municipal areas of Goalpara town. Sensitive areas like Durga Mandir, Forestgate, Bhalukdubi and Gobindapur Sala were kept under strict police vigil. The Superintendent of Police took special initiative to keep the situation under control after a discussion with the leading bandh supporters early on Monday.

AAMSU has a strong hold in Goalpara district and in many earlier cases, bandh call had led to untoward incidents. Thus, the failure of the bandh call has been seen as a change in the thinking of people of the district.