Reported by Manoj Kumar Ojha
Tinsukia: A 48-hour shutdown called by Moran and Motok organisations affected transportation, trade and public services across Assam’s Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts on Friday.
The bandh also led to a large number of trucks being stranded along National Highway-37.
The impact of the shutdown was visible from the morning, with goods carriers lined up along several stretches of the highway.
Many truck drivers remained stranded and prepared meals by the roadside while waiting for the bandh to end.
“We are coming from Lanka near Guwahati and were on our way to Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh, but due to the bandh we are now cooking here,” truck driver Shankar Chhetry told Northeast Now in Tinsukia.
Markets, banks, post offices and several educational institutions remained closed, while public transport services were affected.
Farmers, vegetable vendors, transporters and small business owners said the shutdown had affected their activities, particularly as perishable goods could not be transported.
The shutdown was called by the All Moran Students’ Union (AMSU), the All Assam Motok Youth Students’ Association (AAMYSA) and allied organisations.
The groups are protesting the exclusion of Moran and Motok representatives from the recently expanded Assam Cabinet and the delay in granting Scheduled Tribe status to the two communities.
Some residents called for forms of democratic protest that would not affect the daily activities and livelihoods of the public.