AASU blockade
AASU members block the NH 31 at Pathsala traffic point in Barpeta district of Assam demanding action against the BJP worker involved in assault of AASU members in Nalbari on January 27. Image: Northeast Now

All Barpeta district students’ union of the AASU on Tuesday blocked the arterial National Highway No 31 at Pathsala traffic point under Barpeta district of Assam in protest against the alleged assault on its members by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers at Nalbari on January 27 last.

They shouted slogans against the BJP government on the NH 31 and demanded immediate arrest of the BJP workers who attacked members of the students’ union at Nalbari.

The AASU members on January 27 waved black flags at Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and transport minister Chandra Mohan Patowary at Ghograpar in Nalbari district of Assam while protesting against the much-debated Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

The action by the students’ union was followed by a clash between its members and the BJP workers. The students’ body alleged that the latter disrespected the union’s flag. The AASU protestors were later picked up by police and they were allegedly beaten up and injured inside the police station by BJP supporters.

Samudra Patgiri, secretary of Barpeta district  unit  of the union informed that Tuesday’s protest was staged at the directive of AASU’s central committee demanding scrapping of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and adequate punishment to the attackers on AASU members.

The AASU leader warned of serious consequence if the government fails to scrap the contentious Bill as soon as possible.

Following the incident at Nalbari, the  members of the students’ body have been protesting against the alleged highhandedness of the BJP workers all over the state including Guwahati city where the AASU on Tuesday blocked the busy National Highway bypass stretch from Basistha Chariali to Jalukbari point causing great inconvenience to commuters and traffic congestion all over the city.

Sasanka Talukdar is Northeast Now Correspondent in Pathsala. He can be reached at: [email protected]