Economic blockade in Assam comes to a temporary halt

The eight-day long economic blockade in Assam against Arunachal Pradesh finally came to a temporary halt after the agitators demanded the arrest of those involved in the killing of 11 CPI(ML) supporters, within a span of twenty days. The agitation that was regulated by various organisations in the state was temporarily withdrawn after holding a meeting with the district administration at Biswanath Chariali to make a settlement on the grave issue.

The protest commenced after eleven Assamese men were killed by miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh in Chouldhowa under Behali Reserve Forest on January 29, triggering a sense of fear and rage among the localites.

While submitting a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Sonitpur and addressing it Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, the organisations gave the Government a time limit of twenty days, placed forth four special demands- soliciting compensation for the victims' families, congenial deal of the pending inter-state border dispute along the Assam-Arunachal frontier areas, admonitory penalty to the accused involved in the killing and to provide adequate protection to those residing in the border areas.

The more-than-a-week-long economic blockade was initiated at Charidwar under Charidwar PS and at Borgang under Biwanath PS in Sonitpur district. Severely affecting several parts of the hill states, the blockade restricted the supply of essential goods and edible commodities leading to scarcity of food items and fuel.

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