The Hindu : National : Army out in Tezpur, bandh continues

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Wednesday, Nov 28, 2007
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Army out in Tezpur, bandh continues

Special Correspondent

Guwahati: The Army was out in Sonitpur district’s headquarters, Tezpur, on Tuesday, the second day of the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam-sponsored 36-hour Assam bandh, when about 10,000 Adivasis and tea tribe people from several tea gardens and nearby areas marched towards the town. The district administration, however, persuaded them to stop at Dekargaon, about 6 km away, and disperse after holding a meeting there.

Tension gripped the town when news of the Adivasis’ march reached the residents, who too came out on the streets.

The Deputy Commissioner and senior police officials, including Deputy Inspector General of Police (Northern Range), then rushed to Dekargaon to speak to the Adivasis. A few Adivasis who came on bicycles to Bebejia were chased away by the villagers. The angry villagers later burnt the bicycles they left behind.

The Adivasi processionists were armed with lathis, bows and arrows, swords and machetes.

In Dhubri district, about 2,500 Adivasis blocked the highway for more than an hour, while in upper Assam’s Tinsukia and Dibrugarh district thousands took out rallies under the banner of the All Assam Tea-tribe Students’ Association (AATSA) to protest Saturday’s violence and the incident in which an Adivasi woman was disrobed and beaten up.

In the city, activists of the All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) took out a procession to protest “atrocities” perpetrated on Adivasi women protesters and the “failure” of the administration. They demanded stern punishment to the culprits behind Saturday’s violence and urged the people to maintain peace and unity.

Official sources said that heads would soon roll in the district administration and the city police.

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