Shops shut, roads empty; ACKHSA’s strike successful in Cachar despite BJP’s opposition

All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students’ Association had called for a 12-hour strike in Barak Valley today. The Barak Bandh was called as a mark of protest against the atrocities in Assam – Mizoram border. ACKHSA also alleged that the government of Assam has not taken the issue into serious consideration.

The Bandh was opposed by the ruling BJP but supported by Congress, HMAR Association and several other organisations. There was a cloud of uncertainty if the Bandh will be followed in Silchar and Cachar district. Especially because the BJP had also organised for a protest march to condemn the alleged “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans raised by the supporters of AIUDF Supremo Badaruddin Ajmal in Silchar Airport. The AIUDF, however, countered that it was Aziz Khan (South Karimganj MLA) Zindabad slogan that the NEDA chief Himanta Biswa Sarma used to distort the discourse and derail the alliance with Congress.

It is worth mentioning here that Facebook has termed Himanta Biswa Sarma’s video post alleging that Pakistan Zindabad slogans are raised in Silchar Airport as false on the basis of some independent fact checks.

Coming back to the bandh, most of the private offices remained shut all throughout the district. The roads were empty and residents of Tarapur, Das Colony, Itkhola used the empty roads to play some gully cricket.

“We have watched so much cricket in the ongoing IPL. It was our chance to get together and play a few games of tennis ball gully cricket. We thoroughly enjoyed it,” said a Tarapur resident who played with a group at their own colony.

An autorickshaw driver said he has no clue why the strike has been called, but because it is the word of mouth, he has decided to be available for hire only after 5:00 pm.

After sunset, the roads got busy again. Fast food joints opened up in every corner of the streets as usual. Momo joints in Jhalupara also got crowded.

While the strike was a mark of protest against the atrocities forced on residents of Assam by the people of Mizoram, it continued. Another school operated by the government of Assam inside the boundary of the state was bombed allegedly by Mizo terrorists.