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1,000-hour bandh called in Assam

Guwahati: The All Koch-Rajbanshi Students’ Union (AKRSU) on Friday called for a 1,000-hour Assam and north Bengal bandh, beginning on December 16, to press for the creation of a separate Kamtapur State, comprising 11 districts of Assam and five districts of north Bengal.

Earlier, the Kamrup district administration denied permission to the student body to launch a fast-unto-death. Police arrested 70 AKRSU activists to prevent them from staging the fast at the Lakhidhar Bora Kshetra, near the district library, here.

A strong contingent of police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel was posted at the venue to prevent the AKRSU activists from entering it. The AKRSU, however, vowed to make fresh attempts to enter the venue immediately after the arrested workers were released.

In his order, Kamrup (Metropolian) District Magistrate said that since prohibition under Section 144 was in force and the situation was not conducive for holding such agitation, no permission would be given to the AKRSU to stage their indefinite hunger strike programme in the city. The city Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) also recommended that no permission be issued to the AKRSU in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the aftermath of November 24 violence in the city.

AKRSU president Biswajit Ray said the group would take a decision on Saturday on an invitation extended by Union Tribal Affairs Minister P.R. Kyndiah to the organisations of six communities seeking the Scheduled Tribes status for a meeting on December 18.

Mr. Ray, however, described the proposed meeting as ploy by the Assam government to placate the communities — the Koch-Rajbanshis, the Tea and Ex-tea garden/adivasis, the Tai-Ahoms, the Morans and the Muttocks — ahead of the panchayat polls.

He said Mr. Kyndiah held a meeting with the organisations on January 22 but it failed to resolve the problem of granting ST status.

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