The ongoing agitation for division of Assam grew louder on Monday with wide response of 60-hours long Assam bandh called by All Bodo Students Union which paralysed the normal life in Bodoland Territorial Council and Bodo-dominated areas of Assam.
Though, in the wake of Id, the ABSU has decided to reduce period of Assam bandh which started on Monday to 48 hours.
The national highway 52, which connects Assam and the northeastern states with the rest of India, wore a deserted look while movement of train was also suspended following the Assam bandh called by ABSU.
ABSU president Pramod Boro, who made an appeal to the government to set up the state re-organisation commission besides a tripartite talk, also asked his supporters to maintain peace and harmony during the bandh.
Mr Boro reiterated, “We hope that the Centre will listen to us. Our demands have to be met. Our demand is within the boundary of the Indian Constitution.”
The bandh supporters, who came out in large number across the state, squatted on railway tracks at Bijni and at several places on NH 31, forcing the Northeast Frontier Railway to control the movement of trains at various locations.
The NF Railway has already cancelled 11 trains plying within the state, while most major long distance trains including the Rajdhani Express, Saraighat Express, Kamrup Express and Brahmaputra Mail were running behind schedule.
There were some incidents of protesters damaging vehicles, burning tyres and throwing of stones at Bongaigaon, Chirang, Goalpara and Sonitpur to enforce the bandh.
Meanwhile, situation in trouble-torn Karbi Anglong remained tense due to sporadic incidents of arson, though, curfew was relaxed for six hours from 8 am on Monday.
The security sources said that some protesters attempted to set ablaze a forest range office at Manja but was stopped by the security forces.