1,000-hr Assam district bandh: Nagaland seeks Centre’s help

The 1,000-hour bandh has been called by Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS) of Karbi Anglong demanding creation of an autonomous state out of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, the two hill districts of Assam.

Zeliang said frequent bandhs in the Assam district has always caused endless problems to Nagaland and Manipur, and the affected states are not even remotely connected to the issues raised during most of these bandhs.

In a meeting of the Northeast chief ministers held in Guwahati on August 21, Nagaland had specifically raised the issue of frequent bandhs in Assam. Zeliang had also called upon Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju to take up the issue of frequent bandhs seriously.

Meanwhile, Karbi Anglong Deputy Commissioner PK Buragohain said the district authorities would ensure free movement of vehicles, including those bound for Nagaland and Manipur, by providing armed escorts on the national highway. “We will ensure that no disruption occurs on NH 29,” he said.

A spokesman of JACAS said the 1,000-hour bandh has been called in order to press for resumption of talks with Centre on the issue of creating an autonomous state encompassing the two 6th Schedule hill districts of Assam and introduction of a Bill in Parliament for creation of the autonomous state in the Winter Session. “We want the Government of India to finalise the structure of the autonomous state on the basis of the proposal submitted by JACAS on November 6, 2013 to the Ministry of Home Affairs,” JACAS said.