12-hour bandh in Morigaon and Nagaon oevr AIIMS

Normal life was hit in Morigaon and Nagaon districts on Friday in a 12-hour central Assam bandh demanding setting up of All India Institute of Medical Science at Raha in central Assam.

No untoward incident has been reported so far.

Shops, business establishments, educational institutions and private offices remained closed in the two districts, while vehicles stayed off NH 37 halting vehicular traffic movement between upper and lower Assam, officials said.

Morigaon Additional Superintendent of Police R K Handique said paramilitary forces were deployed to maintain law and order on NH-37 from Jagiroad to Raha.

The bandh, which began at 6 a.m., has been called jointly called by All Tiwa Students Union (ATSU), Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Krisak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and 13 other organisations.

ATSU president and convener of AIIMS Demand Committee at Raha, Dipen Konwar alleged that the BJP government headed by Sarbananda Sonowal has conspired to install the AIIMS at Changsari (near Guwahati in lower Assam) in a clandestine manner and it will be "thwarted at any cost".

The Committee also decided to stage a sit-in on Independence Day at Nagaon to press for its demand.

On July 15 one person was killed and over 20 people, including two additional SPs, were injured in clashes between police and protesters demanding shifting of AIIMS in Assam from Changsari to Raha, about 130 km from Guwahati.