Guwahati/Jagiroad : As many as 30 supporters of the 24 hour Assam Bandh were detained at Jagiroad by the police as the supporters created ruckus and blocked the National Highway in Jagiroad on Friday.
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Protesters detained at Jagiroad
The protest was called in by the Coordination Committee of the Tribal organisations.
Hundredds of vehicles were stranded on the road as the agitators staged a protest by burning tyres against the Bill to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities of the state.
When the situation turned violent, the police personnel chased the protesters and took then into custody.
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Protesters detained at Jagiroad
In the meantime, additional police forces have been deployed to avert any untoward situation.
It may be mentioned that the BJP-led central government’s move to pass the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Amendment Bill, 2019, has outraged the tribal communities.
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Protesters detained at Jagiroad
The communities that are proposed to be included in the ST category are Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak and tea tribes of Assam.
The tribal organisations demanded that the government’s proposal will only eliminate the genuine tribal people of Assam rather than providing any benefit to the entire tribal people of Assam.
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While the impact of the 24 hour Assam bandh was least seen in Guwahati. The traffic was smooth with no effect of the bandh visible.