Anarchy in Asom, bandh, blockade hit hard

Guwahati, May 24 (UNI) Life was paralysed in Asom today as Upper Asom was shut down by ULFA and lower Asom by former Bodo militants, snapping the North East from the rest of the country.

The central Asom and Guwahati city functioned normally, but railway and road traffic have been completely disrupted in these two districts. Along with central Asom, Barak Valley has also no affect.

The former Bodo militants, who are actually sharing government with the Congress in Asom, are observing 100 hours road and rail blockade protesting against a series of killings of their cadres and supporters at the hand of more radical NDFB militants.

On the other hand, ULFA has called for a 24-hour bandh as one of their leader Dhruvajyoti Lahan was killed near Sivsagar.

As a fall-out of these two bandhs at least 16 long distance trains, carrying more than 15,000 passengers,have been stranded all over the state and in North Bengal.

The protestors are the most important ally of the Congress and attempts are on to find out an honourable way out so that train service can be resumed at once.

Moreover, the ULFA after being on the back foot throughout the last two months, have once again used the human right shield to ease off the army pressure as they lost one of their key man, who was instrumental in many killings and bombings.

The ULFA claimed that he was killed when he was unarmed. But the security forces say that he was killed following an encounter.

UNI