Central Assam bandh to protest non-inclusion of tribal leader

A 12-hour shutdown in central Assam to protest the non-inclusion of tribal MLA Rama Kanta Deori in the expanded Assam cabinet today hit life in parts of the state, which witnessed sporadic violence, police said.

The Sarbananda Sonowal cabinet was expanded for the first time since 2016 yesterday, and ethnic organisations have called for the shutdown alleging the non-inclusion of Deori was a betrayal to the ethnic groups despite promises made to them by the BJP leadership ahead of the assembly polls.

The shutdown from 5 am today evoked total response in seven tribal blocks of Morigaon district and hit normal life in adjoining Nagaon and Kamrup (Metro) districts, police said.

Shops and business establishments in the areas remained shut and vehicles stayed off roads.

Incidents of violence were reported from Jonbil, Kumoi on Jagiroad-Morigaon PWD road, where 'bandh' supporters pelted stones and damaged vehicles despite tight police security.

One person was arrested in Morigaon town for his alleged involvement in violence, police said, adding, the agitators attempted to set vehicles on fire, assaulted drivers and stopped vehicular movement till noon.

Assam State Transport Corporation buses were plying on NH-37 with police escort.

The central Assam Bandh has been called by Tiwa National Solidarity Forum, All Tiwa Students Union, Chutiya Sanmilan and Koch-Rajbongshi Sanmilan accusing the ruling BJP of betraying the aspirations of the ethnic communities of the area by ignoring MLA and former chief executive member of Deori Autonomous Council, Rama Kanta Deori in the cabinet expansion.