Normal life in Dhemaji district of north Assam has come to a grinding halt since morning on Tuesday as the day-long total Assam bandh evoked total response across the district.
The bandh is called by more than 46 organizations including Krishal Mukti Sangram Somiti (KMSS) and Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and others.
Shops and commercial establishment, educational institutions at the towns are remaining closed while vehicular movements are totally off the roads. Attendance in the government offices at Dhemaji and Jonai are observed thin for the day.
The protesters and supporters blocked the National Highway-15 at several portions of Gogamukh, Dhemaji, Silapathar and Jonai under the district by burning tyres and felling trees in the morning and staged their protest against the government’s move regarding Citizenship Amendment Bill-2016 for granting Citizenship to Hindu Bangalis.
Dhemaji town has an abandoned look this morning, as the business communities that usually start their business quite early, kept their shutters down for the day thereby extending moral support towards the bandh call.
The bandh call is adversely affecting Arunachali passengers from journeying to Itanagar and other places via National Highway-15 passing amidst north Assam districts.
A group of protesters took position at Ruksin gate (Arunachal entry gate) at Jonai this morning and blocked the road and cautioned all cab drivers and commuters not to pass through Assam during the day.
Consequently, many vehicles full of passengers come from Arunachal side are stranded at Ruksin to move to their destinations at Itanagar and other places.
The police on duty detained some protesters at Gogamukh in the morning, who were released later.
Barring some minor conflicts with the police, overall situation through out the district is reported peaceful till 2 pm and no untoward situation has been reported from any parts.
