All India strike called by 10 central trade unions brought normal life to a grinding halt in Silchar on Wednesday.
The ten central trade unions (CTUs) which have called for this two-day Bharat bandh, did not have much effect on Tuesday, but, had a major impact on Wednesday, as many picketers were seen rallying in two wheelers in various parts of the town.
Train services, however, were not disrupted and Silchar-Guwahati fast passenger train and Silchar-Agartala trains left Silchar railway station at 7 and 8 in the morning as per their schedule.
“We have not been informed by our union for which we are not taking part in the nationwide bandh call”, informed one railway employee on condition of anonymity.
School buses and public transport kept off the roads while major business establishments, malls, banks, post offices, remained shut throughout the day.
While Assam University authorities postponed all examinations today, some schools for not informing their students, for the same, had to go through a harrowing ordeal.
“Today my daughter has her mathematics examination and I have heard that the school buses are not plying. The school authorities too have not informed whether they have postponed the examination date,” said a grieving father talking to Northeast Now.
Picketers and members of various trade unions later assembled outside Cachar Deputy Commissioner’s office and chanted slogans in unison for fulfilling their 12-point charter of demands.
Rafique Ahmed, President of AITUC’s Cachar Committee, talking to this correspondent said, “For the last ten years, we have been agitating to uplift the standard of living of the working class. We would pressurise the Modi-led NDA government as well as Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to fulfill our demands as well as our legitimate rights.”
More than 100 picketers were later arrested by the police authorities and shifted to Chotelal Seth Girls School in Silchar and put under detention for the entire day.