The dawn to dusk bandh called by 16 social organisations of Karbi Anglong including Simeon Rongphar led faction of the Karbi Students Association (KSA) against the proposed ST(H) status for the Bodos living in the hill districts of Assam has paralysed normal life in the twin hill districts of Karbi Anglong.
The organisations called for the 12-hour bandh from 5 am to 5 pm in protest against Clause 8 of the Bodo Accord which concluded peacefully without any untoward incident. However, train services were not affected.
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Also read: Assam: Karbi bodies call for bandh opposing ST (H) status for Bodos
In Diphu, there were fewer vehicles plying on the road. In the morning, students were seen going to schools on foot and later returned to their homes. Some parents were seen ferrying their children in vehicles pasted with ‘EXAM’ signs to school and back.
In general, educational institutions were shut down along with businesses and banks although few private vehicles seen on the road.
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Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Secretariat here, the nerve centre of the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong saw normal attendance by staff in the morning, but towards the afternoon it wore a deserted look.
It is similar in other parts of Karbi Anglong. In Howraghat, Bakalia and Bokajan, the response was total but the students who had school examinations were exempted from the bandh.
In Bokajan, activists of KSA, Students and Youth Council, Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong, Karbi Anglong Women Justice Forum, UKYA, KYDO, Students and Youth for Justice, Hills Progressive Youth Association, All India Students Association, AKSAKU, AIKSU, KADA, KAUPA, NSM, ULDC and Karbi Youth Organisation were seen making rounds of the town.
The activists took out procession from Hanjanglangso, an area of Bokajan.
The NH 36 which passes through Bakalia remained quiet. In West Karbi Anglong, Hamren, Vothatlangso, Donkamukam, Tumpreng and Kheroni were seen shuttered with all schools, banks, Government offices were shut. Though in the early morning few bikes and vehicles were seen plying on the roads but the picketers intercepted them. Overall the bandh was peaceful in the district till the time of reporting.