Adivasi blockade disrupts train movement in Assam

Kokrajhar, Dec 17 (UNI) Train and road traffic were severely hit in the lower Assam districts today following the 12-hour economic blockade and statewide bandh called by the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA).

The AASAA had called the strike to press their demand of according Scheduled Tribe status to the adivsais in the state.

Though the economic blockade was earlier an indefinite one, it was reduced to a 12-hour blockade to lessen public inconvenience.

Train movement was stopped at the lower Assam section after a few trains passed by in the early morning.

A large number of picketers gathered at Hasimara and Srirampur railway stations since morning, forcing the authorities to suspend train movement.

Railway sources informed that picketers had cleared the Hasimara station and negotiations were on with them at Srirampur station.

Train services were likely to resume later in the afternoon.

The roads also wore a deserted look as both commercial and private vehicles stayed off the road.

The authorities had put in place tight security arrangements and no untoward incident had been reported so far. However, tension prevailed in the Adivasi-inhabited areas.

The blockade and bandh failed to impact most of the other parts of the state, barring the Adivasi-dominated pockets.

UNI