ASA calls bandh in five states protesting Adivasi massacre

The Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan (ASA), a pan-India tribal organisation, today called for a dawn-to-dusk bandh in five eastern states on December 31 in protest against the recent massacre of Adivasis by Bodo militants in Assam.

"We have decided to observe a dawn-to-dusk bandh in Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand in protest against the killing of innocent adivasis in Assam by Bodo militants," ASA central President Salkhan Murmu said.

Murmu said the decision was taken in an emergency meeting of ASA in Purulia district of West Bengal.

"ASA has called for the bandh as the concerned state as well as the union government have failed to take adequate measures to ensure security of the Adivasi community," the former MP said.

12-hr bandh by tribals in N Bengal today against massacre
A 12-hour bandh has been called by tribal organisations in six north Bengal districts tomorrow to protest against the attack and killing of adivasis by NDFB(S) in Assam.

The bandh will begin at 6 am and essential services would be exempted from its purview, Adivasi Vikas Morcha state president Birsa Tirkey said today.

The protest would be peaceful, he said.

The bandh has been called by the Morcha and at least 15 other adivasi organisations of north Bengal.

West Bengal had witnessed protests by tribal bodies yesterday also against the Assam bloodbath. The Bharat Jakat Majhi Pargana Mahal blockaded a key highway at Silda in West Midnapore district for about five hours. pti