SILCHAR: The dawn-to-dusk bandh called by Barak Democratic Front (BDF) in protest against the killing of six Assam policemen at Lailapur near the Assam-Mizoram border in Cachar district on Monday crippled life across the Barak Valley on Wednesday.
In Silchar, most commerical establishments and other institutions were closed and traffic was off the road. Major localities like Tarapur, Shillongpatty, Central Road, Sadarghat and Rangirkhari, which usually remain abuzz on other days, were completely unoccupied. However, in some rural areas, some shops were open.
In Karimganj and Hailakandi districts, too, the bandh was observed. The strike was supported by many organisations, including the All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students’ Association, Food Grains and Merchant Association and All India United Democratic Front, among others. Altogether, 20 picketeers were detained during the bandh. There was reportedly no report of any untoward incident during the day.
In a statement on Wednesday, BDF chief convener Pradip Dutta Roy thanked the people of the Barak Valley for extending their support and co-operation to the bandh. The strike’s success proves that the common people of the valley want a permanent solution of the inter-state border issue, he said.
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