Protests across Assam, high alert sounded

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, March 7: The galand House in Guwahati was gheraoed today while sporadic protests were witnessed in many places across the State, with several organizations demanding punishment to the perpetrators of the lynching of a rape accused in Dimapur on March 5 last.

As tension simmered, the Assam government sounded a high alert in throughout the State to prevent any flare-up.

The Asomiya Yuba Mancha, Asomiya Nibonua Sanstha and truck owners and drivers associations demonstrated in front of the galand House at Sixth Mile this morning, shouting slogans against the Central and galand governments. Several protestors were detained by police.

Activists of the All Assam Minority Students Union also burnt the effigy of galand Chief Minister TR Zeliang at Last Gate here. Protesting AAMSU activists also blocked the highway at Jagiroad.

Similar protests were reported from many parts of the State.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Amnesty Intertiol India today said the members of the mob which lynched a man suspected of rape in Dimapur, must be brought to justice at once.

“This is a serious lapse in the crimil justice system,” said Shemeer Babu, Programmes Director at Amnesty Intertiol India.  “The galand government must ensure that every person who was part of the mob is brought to justice. Failure to do so will send the message that anyone can commit outrageous abuses and attempt to justify them as an expression of public anger.”

“galand authorities must uphold the rule of law. Violence against women needs to be tackled with swift and effective responses from the state, not with barbarism by self-appointed vigilantes,” said Babu.

On the other hand, at least 17 truckers’ bodies in Assam have resorted to a strike in protest against the incident. They said they will not ply trucks to galand till the culprits are brought to book.

The truckers’ bodies also complained of illegal tax collection in galand, for which truckers are continually harassed by various quarters, particularly by the militant outfits with which the Centre is observing ceasefire.