100-hr Dima Hasao bandh ends, prices of commodities soar

The 100-hour Dima Hasao bandh came to and end today after severely affecting normal life in the last four days with almost all offices and institutions remaining closed and prices of essential commodities soaring.
The bandh, that began on February 26, disrupted rail communication between Lumding and Badarpur as agitators damaged rail tracks near Bageter station halting services to neighbouring states too, police said.
The supporters of NC Hills Indigenous Student Forum (NCHISF), which gave the bandh call, torched a railway bridge near Migrendisa station under Haflong police station in Dima Hasao district.
Supply of essential goods through railways to Barak Valley and neighbouring states like Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram were affected. All passenger and goods trains were cancelled following the bandh since Wednesday.

The bandh was marred by violence as at least 15 persons, including a lady police officer, were injured in a clash between the police and bandh supporters at Mahur Railway station on Friday. The clash took place when police tried to remove a rail blockade.
Prices of essential commodities have, meanwhile, skyrocketed in the district as no supply reached since February 26.

The bandh was called to demand bifurcation of Dima Hasao into two districts and protest renaming of NC Hills to Dima Hasao. The bandh affected normal life with almost all establishments remaining shut for these days.
Banks, post offices, markets, other commercial establishments and government offices remained closed and vehicles were off the road, officials said.

Schools and colleges were, however, open and exempted from the purview of the bandh as the HSLC and HS examinations are going on.