Bandh hits life in Bodoland area in Assam

Kokrajhar, Feb 6 (UNI) Two simultaneous bandhs and rail blockades, called by separate organistaions, affected life in Assam's Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) today.

The Bodo People's Forum for Peace and Writers had called for a 36-hour Assam bandh, which began today.

Though the bandh failed to evoke response in the rest of the state,it affectred life in the Bodo areas.

No untoward incident has been reported so far, with three picketers arrested from Karigaon area in Kokrajhar district while trying to forcibly impose the bandh called to protest the killing of the organisation's vice-president Babul Swargiyari by unidentified miscreants last week.

Meanwhile, the Anil Ray faction of All Koch Rajbonshi Students' Union (AKRSU) had called a six-hour rail blockade in western Assam, which failed to have much effect on arail traffic.

More than 50 picketers had assembled between Amtol and Basugaon railway stations in Chirang district to stop train movement. However, they were arrested by the police.

The AKRSU had been demanding ST status for the Koch-Rajbanshi community.

UNI XC-SG KK VD ND1832