HPC Paper Mill: Vehicles stay off roads as Barak Valley observed 12-hour bandh

Government and private establishments remained closed here in Barak Valley this Thursday in observance of a 12-hour bandh which was called by the HPC Paper Mills Revival Action Committee (HPCPMRAC).

The bandh was received well by the public and was supported by several political organisations all over the valley. In an earlier interaction, Manabendra Chakraborty, chief convener of the Committee said both the Centre and the State had assured that the two paper mills of Assam would be revived at the earliest but nothing substantial was ever done. He said that it has now become clear that the government is not at all sincere and does not even want to revive the two mills.

Manabendra Chakraborty also put forth the miserable plight of the employees of the mill who are leading their lives in utmost distress and misery. He said that the Committee is left with no other alternative or option but to convene a bandh. It is in this backdrop that the Committee has called for Barak bandh in demand of revival of the paper mills at Nagaon and Panchgram.

Others also lamented on the matter that just for an amount of Rs.90 crore, the employees of the mill were thrown into the mouth of hell. They further said that during ‘Namami Barak’, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal assured that the problem of paper mill was his own problem and he would take immediate action so that the mill is revived. Since then, one year has elapsed, but the Chief Minister till now has not taken any step and has rather broken his promise.

Meanwhile, rallies were also taken out in various places of the valley, such as, Silchar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Kalain, Badarpur, Panchgram, Gumra Bazar among other places.The 12-hour bandh has received support from the Congress, Jamiat, SUCI, CTVOA and a host of other organizations.