Bharat Bandh affects normal life in Assam

The Bharat Bandh called by the Congress and Left against rising fuel prices affected normal life across Assam on Monday even as the ruling BJP claimed that the shutdown was a failure.

Traffic went off the roads in most places including on National Highways. While government offices recorded thin attendance, most markets and educational institutions remained closed during the bandh hours.

Hundreds took to the streets in different places including in Guwahati and blocked roads to express their resentment against the rising fuel prices that have shot up prices of essential commodities.

Some bandh supporters in Morigaon forced some schools which were open to shut.

Additional Director General of Police Mukesh Agarwala said the bandh was peaceful. "There is no incident of any law and order problem. We have arrested a few bandh supporters for trying to enforce the bandh," he said.

Supporters of the shutdown burnt tyres and put up obstacles on roads in different parts of the state to block movement of vehicular traffic, which drew flak from citizens.

Some slammed the Congress for trying to forcibly shut down schools.

While the bandh failed to have much impact on flights to and from the northeast, train services were affected.

At least nine trains had to be detained and were delayed due to picketing.

BJP state President Ranjit Kumar Dass, however, termed the bandh a failure. "The bandh is a desperate attempt to make their presence felt, nothing else," said Dass of the Congress.

--IANS

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