The Hindu : Front Page : Call for 1000-hour Assam bandh

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Thursday, Dec 20, 2007
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Call for 1000-hour Assam bandh

Special Correspondent

Guwahati: The All-Koch-Rajbanshi Students’ Union (AKRSU) on Wednesday revived its call for a 1,000-hour Assam and north Bengal bandh from January 1 to protest the alleged indifference of the State government to its ongoing fast-unto-death agitation.

It is demanding the creation of a separate Kamatapur State.

On December 14, the AKRSU gave a call for a 1,000-hour bandh from December 16 after the district administration refused permission for a fast-unto-death protest here.

However, the student body withdrew the call after the district administration allowed it to begin the fast the same day.

“Forcibly removed”

AKRSU president Biswajit Ray told journalists here that the police forcibly took away all the 22 people who were on a fast-unto-death and hospitalised them, saying their health had deteriorated.

Dharna in districts

Apart from renewing the bandh call, he said dharna, processions and bandhs would be conducted at the district level to intensify the statehood movement.

Mr. Ray complained that no State government representative visited those on fast, although leaders of political parties expressed their solidarity for their demand to grant the Scheduled Tribe status to the Koch-Rajbanshi community.

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