The ‘chakka bandh’ in
Goalpara and Kamrup (R) districts, called by seven
Garo organisations, turned violent on Wednesday and police had to fire rubber bullets at unruly agitators who pelted stones at vehicles plying on NH 37.
The 12-hour ‘chakka bandh’ received partial response in the two districts. Most of the long distance buses plied normally on the highways, after a small hesitation of first two hours of the
bandh.
As per information, the supporters of the pelted stones at several vehicles on NH-37 at Paharkata under Agia Police Station in Goalpara.
“Glasses of several vehicles were broken. As the police tried to pacify the agitators, they in return pelted stones at the police force too. At this, the police had to resort to firing rubber bullets to disperse the unruly and aggressive protesters,” Goalpara Superintendent of Police Amitava Sinha said.
Sinha informed that the ‘aggressive and unruly’ agitators were continuously pelting stones taking shelter in a hill targetting the moving vehicles on NH-37.
“The police altogether detained 17 persons from different parts under three police stations including Agia, Krishnai and Dudhnoi,” informed Sinha stating that the detainees were trying to obstruct the movement of vehicles of the peaceful people.
The bandh supporters tried to block the NH-37 at Agia and NH-51 at Damra in the morning.
However, the police administration thwarted the stiff resistance and let vehicles ply normally.
The police arrested two agitators who pelted stones at the vehicle of a security personnel at Dudhnoi-Damra Road in the morning. However, no casualties were reported from the police administration.
Smart Sangma, Biki Marak, Susang Sangma, Zenus Marak, Lav Dadia and three others were detained from Agia area for trying to disrupt the road communication and pelting stones at vehicles.
Seven Garo organisations Garo National Council (GNC), Garo National Union (GNU), Garo Gaon Burha Santha, Garo Sahitya Sabha, Garo Mahila Parishad, Youth Parishad and All Achik Youth Federation declared the ‘chakka bandh’ in protest against the State Government’s apathy and indifference towards the development of the Garo people residing in Assam.
On Saturday, these organisations held a meeting at Hudakona, a place near the Assam-Meghalaya border and reiterated their long-pending demand for an autonomous council on satellite basis and all-round development for their people residing specially in Goalpara and Kamrup (R) districts.
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