JACAS chairman Khoesing Teron ruled out the possibility of calling off the strike at a press conference today. “Some people are trying to create an untoward situation by taking advantage of the strike, but we are doing our best to keep the strike peaceful and total.”
Teron stated that the administration banned the strike when it came into effect. “We had informed about our decision to call the strike a month ago, but the administration was silent then,” he added. The JACAS is waiting for a call from the Union Government to resume talks on the issue of Statehood.
Before this, a lot of strikes and bandhs have taken place in Karbi Anglong. If parties and organisations are so concerned about the daily wage earners, what did they do to mitigate their poverty in the last 60 years? Teron asked.
The JACAS chairman expressed shock at the “attitude” of the elected public representatives, including the local MP, MLA and CEM of the KAAC, who are maintaining silence on the whole issue.
Both the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and the district administration today made it clear that strong measure would be taken to tackle the strike if the negotiations fail. The Joint Secretary of the KAAC today issued a notice to all traders and business houses to open their respective establishments immediately, failing which the authorities would cancel their trading licences. Officers of the council served nearly 1,000 notices at various parts of the Diphu market.
At the strict instruction of the council authority, a considerable number of staff today rejoined duty at the Secretariat of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. A number of departmental offices functioning under the administrative control of the KAAC recorded a fair turnout of officers and staff. Buses under the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Transport Department plied on various routes under police protection.
Deputy Commissioner Prasanta Buragohain today issued a legal notice, banning the enforcement of the bandh, citing a standing order of the Supreme Court. The notice stated that non-compliance or violation of the provisions would be treated as contempt of the court and would be liable for penal action as per the provisions of the law.
A large number of armed police personnel, deployed in the market areas and vital installations, has practically turned the small town into a garrison. From early morning, announcements were made on fixed loudspeakers by the district administration to keep shops and business establishments open. Traders opened their shutters amid extraordinary security.
Source: Assam Tribune
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