Six communities Assam bandh affects upper Assam, western Assam; bandh time reduced to 12 hours

The 48 hours Assam bandh beginning from 5 am on Monday called by Choi Janagosthiya Aikya Manch, the umbrella organization of six OBC communities demanding for ST status has evoked full response in upper Assam, northern Assam and western Assam districts.

Adviser of All Assam Tai Ahom Students' Union (AATASU) Aswini Chetia said that in view of the present situation of Assam, the bandh period has been reduced from previous 48 hours to 12 hours and it would end at 5 pm on Monday.

"The next meeting of all organisations of the six communities will be held at Golaghat on July 25. There we will decide our future course of agitation", said Chetia.

Bus services from Guwahati to upper Assam and western Assam has been affected due to the bandh and most of the educational institutes also remained closed.

The bandh had been called after a talk between MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) and eight ethnic bodies, demanding ST status, failed. The meeting was held at New Delhi on Friday last which was chaired by Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju.

Later, representatives of six communities alleged that Centre has no intention of granting ST status to six communities of Assam. They vowed rigorous movement in the state in days to come.

Granting of Scheduled Tribes status to the six communities – Moran, Muttock, Tai Ahom, Koch-Rajbongshi, Chutia and Tea Tribes – was a political promise of the BJP. The grant of ST to these communities will lead Assam to turn into a tribal state.