Violence during Assam bandh

Blaming BJP and AIUDF for making provocative statements, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi urged political parties and outfits to refrain from calling bandhs which were inflaming passions in violence-hit areas.

"I am not happy about the way in which BJP and All India United Democratic Front and some other outfits are conducting themselves. I appeal to them not to make any more provocative statements," he told reporters here.

Referring to yesterday's bandh called by Bajrang Dal and the one today called by the AMSU he said "This is not a time to call bandhs. Instead of bringing calm, bandhs only increase the temper and also affect the economy. I urge all parties and outfits to refrain from calling bandhs."

Admitting that the state continued to be rocked by incidents of violence, Gogoi said the army has been given power to seize arms and was confident that results would soon be visible.

Indefinite curfew was clamped in Tezpur town after an youth was critically injured by bandh supporters when he tried to stop them from forcibly closing down shops near Mahabhairab Temple in the heart of the town, police sources said. MORE