press conference of social organisations calling a 36 hour bandh on Saturday evening
Press conference of social organizations calling a 36-hour bandh on December 15, 2018. Photo: Northeast Now

The president of left leaning faction of Karbi Students Association (KSA) Simeon Rongphar was arrested by police on Saturday afternoon in Diphu of Karbi Anglong district of Assam. He was called to Diphu police station and on arrival was detained by the police.

Also read: Assam: March to KAAC opposing ST-Hills status to Bodos of hill districts

Rongphar has made some provocative statements against the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Tuliram Ronghang on Tuesday last during several left leaning organization’s march to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Secretariat programme.

In this regard Rabiram Ronghang filed an FIR at Diphu police station.

On the other hand, Rongphar’s faction of KSA along with allied organizations in a press conference at their office in Diphu announced a bandh call of 36 hours from 5 am of December 16 to 5 pm of December 17 in protest against the arrest of their president.

The KSA threatened to call an indefinite bandh if Rongphar is not released within the 36 hours bandh called by them.

On Tuesday last 16 Left leaning organizations took out a march programme from Hanjanglangso and Dokmoka to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Secretariat to demand scrapping of Clause 8 of BLT accord that provided for granting of ST (Hills) status to Bodos living in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts.

It is to be noted that almost all the organizations that took part in the programme of December 11 somehow or the other have links to the CPI (ML) Liberation. Of late these organizations have become more proactive with the Lok Sabha election round the corner.

This is the second bandh call within a week by social organizations in the district.

The last bandh call was of 48 hours and ended on the evening of December 14.

Nongee Terang is Northeast Now Correspondent in Diphu. He can be reached at: [email protected]