AUDF's 12-hour bandh affects life in Barak Valley

Silchar, June 7 (UNI) A dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the Assam United Democratic Front(AUDF) paralysed normal life in the three districts of Barak Valley today.

Official sources here said the bandh passed off peacefully with no report of any untoward incident from any part of the Valley.

The bandh was jointly called by three district committees of AUDF in protest against the attack on party MLAs Hafiz Basir Ahmed Qasmi and Aditya Langthasa at Samaguri in Nagaon on May 29.

While shops and business establishments were partially open in different parts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts, traffic remained off the roads.

Attendance in the government offices was thin, educational institutions remained closed. Rail and air connectivity to and from Silchar was however normal.

AUDF central committee general secretary and Katigora MLA Ataur Rehman Mazharbhuiyan said police arrested more than 1,000 party workers from different parts of the Barak Valley for picketting in front of government offices and other establishments. Those arrested include Badarpur MLA Anwarul Haque and some other senior party functionaries.

The AUDF leader said they have been demanding ouster of forest minister Rockybul Hussain from Tarun Gogoi ministry for ''instigating attack'' on the two party MLAs in Samaguri. The party also demanded transfer of Nagaon DC J Balaji and SP Krishna Das.

UNI